That night, Lecrian couldn't wake up...

Marco walked into a room and absentmindedly turned on the light.

He gently closed the door behind him, walked to his bed, got on his

knees, and scrumidgedaround through the mess to find his night

clothes.

Behind Marco's back, the closet door silently opened. A boy stood

there, holding a club of some kind. He had blonde hair, brown

eyes, and an expression of a cocky, unpredictable thief.

The boy quietly snuck behind Marco, who finally found his shirt.

The boy lifted the club...

Wap!

Marco fell hard. He was unconscious before he hit the ground.

The wickedly grinning boy bent down and touched Marco. "Don't

you feel lucky you're not an animal right now." Lecrian recognized

his voice, but he cannotremember from where.

"It's too bad, though," the boy continued, pulling a large grey ring

from somewhere. "If it wasn't for the fact that a certain Xena wants

my head, Iwould've given you the chance to defend yourself." The

boy chuckled, enjoying aprivate joke. He tore sticky strips from the

grey ring and harshly wrappedMarco's hands and legs together,

then stuck a peice over Marco's mouth.

The boy dragged Marco to the closet, but as he did so, he began to

change. He shrunk, narrowed, and darkened, and other more subtil

but significant changeshappened.

Marco woke just before the closet door shut. He looked up

groggily to see himself staring down triumphantly on him. The

door closed, leaving nothing butdarkness.

Lecrian's mind's eye adjusted to the dark, but he no longer saw the

inside of a closet with Marco trapped inside. He was underground,

in a tunnel. He heard alot of commotion to his right, and when he

looked, he saw a bird. Then, beforeLecrian realized it, his mind

touched the bird's.

Tobias looked down. He was in a tunnel, yes, but he was in a

hidden crevice up the side of it, near the ceiling. Below him,

looking for him, was his enemies.People who were no longer really

people and two kinds of monsters, and oneother. The people

carried weapons. One kind of monster was tall with blades allover.

The other monster looked like a gigantic centipede, only with a

huge,tooth-ringed mouth and red globs of jelly for eyes. The one

other enemy, theworst, was not there at the moment.

Tobias was scared. He has been in morph for so long, his time

must almost be up. He had to demorph.

But he can't. There were so many, they would see him. He was just

lucky to have found the small crevice, and even luckier that they

havn't seen him when he hidthere. If he moved now, when they

were on full alert, they would see him andcatch him.

What if he could just get out?

No. The only ways out were through doors, and birds can't open

doors, and they were sure to be guarded.

What if he did somehow find a place and demorphed? Even if they

did see him, what if he found a place too high up for them to

reach?

But that wouldn't work either. Even if they couldn't catch him, they

would still see him and know that he is human. Then it wouldn't

matter if he was caught or not, because the results would be the

same. They would realize that if he washuman, the others were

human, too. That would be the end of his friends.

The others. They were the only people who ever really seemed to

care for him. Unlike the others, Tobias had nothing to loose in the

war. Nothing but them. Andhe didn't want to loose them.

So Tobias stayed were he was and did nothing. Much too late, his

enemies figured that he had escaped and stopped looking for him.

The Human-Controllers begantoleave, opening the doors. Unseen,

Tobias blew through those doors to freedom.

Tobias found a meadow. He landed and focused, trying to hope.

Tobias focused, waiting.

Nothing. Nothing happened.

The dream ended. At least the images faded into black, but Tobias'

emotions stayed.

Unable now to cry, Tobias' soul mourned silently.

None of the Animorphs could sleep very easily. Rachel didn't sleep

at all. Shesat by Tobias' bed, watching him closely. He laid

comatose on his bed, hisbloodless face as pale as a ghost. Tobias

had lost a lot of blood, so much so that his pulse was nearly

impossible to detect, so Rachel watched his breath. Ifhe ever

stopped breathing, she'd yell for Themis.

'Themis,' Rachel thought bitterly. He could've stopped the dragon.

He could'vesaved Tobias. He had the power to do it. Jake had

explained that King Themiscouldn't, just like the Chee couldn't

fight, but Rachel didn't feel any better.

She put her hand in front of Tobias' mouth and nose, feeling for a

breath. Itwas still there, but as weak and uneven as before.

Rachel felt helpless. She didn't like the feeling. She has always

been able tohelp before. When her friends were afraid, her apparent

fearlessness rubbed offon them. Her bravery and disregard for her

own safety had saved them severaltimes before. And when Tobias

needed her most, when he lost himself to the hawk, she was there,

giving him hope and assuring him that he will be alright.But her

inner strength couldn't help him, now.

She looked around the room she and Tobias were in. A clean fire

burned endlessly in a fireplace across the room. A couch was just

beyond the bed, and Queen Marah laid asleep on it, ready to give

help at a moment's notice. BesideRachel stood a dresser. A single

candle burned on it.

Rachel reached out and opened the top drawer. She reached in and

pulled out a single, lead chunk.

A bullet. King Themis used his magic to pull the bullet out of

Tobias' chest before sealing it up. Disgusted, Rachel threw it back

in and shut the drawer.

She checked on Tobias again. She absolutely hated being useless.

If only she could reach Tobias, give him some of her courage.

Could she? Rachel remembered hearing somewhere that people in

comas can sometimes hear what people say around them.

She reached out and took Tobias' limp hand in her own.

"You still with me, Tobias?" she asked tenderly. "I certainly hope

so. I'mwilling to bet that you would like to know what happened

when we found you."She paused, not sure if she should talk to him

about it. It may distress himmore.

She remembered what happened. She remembered very well.

Cassie immediately stopped the bleeding in his chest and stopped

up an unnoticed wound on his arm.Marco and Jake got Themis,

who pulled the bullet out and sealed up both the holein Tobias'

chest and the cut on his arm. Everyone tried to rouse Tobias, wake

him so he could demorph, but he never woke up. No one could

figure out whathappened to Ax. He disappeared without a trace.

Jake morphed wolf to find

out who did this to Tobias and who may have been involved with

Ax's disappearance.

There was only one other scent other than Tobias', Ax's, and two

birds. Eran's.

Eran shot Tobias. He was found in his room, claiming ignorance.

Themis setguards around him, to prevent any escape.

Then everyone went to bed to get what few hours sleep they could.

She couldn't,though. Not with Tobias just laying there in the bed

on the verge of death.

"The man who shot you won't get away, Tobias. And we'll find Ax.

And we'llhelp you get better. You won't die." She gently brushed

his uncontrollablehair away from of his face. Leaning forward,

Rachel tenderly kissed his cold forehead.

"You'll be alright, Tobias," she said, putting every ounce of faith in

those few words. "I promise."

The response was so small, Rachel wasn't sure that she didn't

imagine it. Butshe liked to think that he did hear her, and that he

did answer. She thoughtshe felt Tobias squeeze her hand, weak but

still there.

And so Rachel kept her tireless vigil, faithfully watching out for

Tobias as she had so many times before. Tobias did stop breathing

once, but Marah was there. She gave Tobias strenght, then took

Rachel's place, telling her to go to sleep.

Eran's pre-trial was held just an hour later, when the sun was just

beginning to rise. In the warroom, Themis, Lecrian, and Ariana

stood alone with Eran.

"But I wasn't there," Eran protested. "I don't even know what this is

all about." He was in his hunting cloths, dirt smudged on his hands.

He tenderlyheld his head.

Eyes soft with sympathy, Themis asked, "Could you tell me about

last night? About yesterday?" Themis wore plain clothes,

demonstrating that this was not an official trial. He kept a close eye

on his son. Lecrian seemed strong, but Themis knew that he was

still recovering from the dragon's attack.

"Well, you know about the hunt. After the hunt, I talked with

Lecrian, then went to my room. Something hit my head," he

grimaced, "and the next thing I know, I'm locked in my closet. It

took me quite a while to get free, but when Idid, I'm placed under

arrest."

One of Lecrian's eyebrows shot up questioningly. "You never went

to the celebration?"

"Of course not!" Eran exploded. "I just told you that. So what is

going on, here?"

Lecrian glanced sideways at his sister, sitting on a chair. She

looked as ifshe was about to break down. "Last night, someone

poisoned Marco. We believethat same someone nearly killed

Tobias and is somehow involved in for Ax's

disappearance."

"What?!?" Eran said, looking stunned at the news. "But who?"

Lecrian sighed heavily. He didn't like to say it, especially since

Eran was his best friend, but Eran had to know. "I hate to say this,

but it looks as if you did it."

Eran's eyes widened. "You're kidding."

Lecrian tried to smile. "You know I don't kid." Then he looked

depressed again. "Are you sure you weren't at the party."

"I swear on my honor that I wasn't. But why do you ask?"

"Because you danced with me," Ariana said weakly, tears standing

in her eyes. "You danced with me. If it wasn't you, it was someone

who looked and soundedand smelled exactly like you. That same

person I danced with? He gave Marco a

poisoned cup of punch. His scent was where Tobias was found

nearly killed and Aximili found missing." Her voice cracked. She

sniffed and blinked back her tears, and in a whisper no one was

supposed to hear, she said "I thought youwere acting differently,

but I had no idea..."

All shock left Eran's face. Tenderly, he knelt next to Ariana and

hugged her. She hugged him back, tears streaming down her face.

Lecrian stood by his father. To him he said "Is it possible that Eran

was possessed?"

Themis shook his head. "I felt something like that somewhere in

the castle justbefore Saurat dragon attacked, but it wasn't from

Eran. If Eran was possessed,he would have been so throughout the

whole dance, not just the very end."

"How about a shapeshifter? A changeling?"

"No, not if Jake's report is accurate. Changelings keep their own

scent, no matter what form they are in."

For a while, no one said anything. Ariana regained her composure,

then saidsomething she was sure would get her into trouble.

"Is it possible that Jake lied?"

To her surprize, her father didn't get mad. "It is possible," he said,

"but I seriously doubt it. He was deceived, more likely."

At first Ariana stared at her father dumbly. Then her anger flared.

"Then WHY are you doing this?" she yelled, suddenly standing up.

"Why are you accusing Eran of something he simply did not do?

He's a knight. *Your* knight.

His word is his life. You *know* he's innocent, so why are you

putting him on trial, anyway?"

"Because they don't know," Lecrian interjected gently.

She fiercely turned on him. "So," she spat, "you're catering to them,

now? Putinnocents on trial to pamper the imposters? And..."

"And find a way to prove his innocence before they wake up."

Lecrian interrupted calmly, cutting off her tirade. Ariana stood

defiantly, but kept her silence.

.For a short while, no one said anything. Then Eran spoke.

"Oh, Ariana, why don't you trust your father and brother," he asked

her, giving her a hug. "I know that they will do everything in their

power to help me. I trust them totally, now that I know what this is

all about."

Ariana held him, and slowly her fears dissipitated.

With the emotional storm gone, Lecrian went back to business.

"Father, what evidence do we have that Eran may not be the one

who betrayed the Animorphs?"

"So far, nothing but Eran's testimony and word. Do you think that

this will be enough?"

Lecrian shook his head. "No. From what I've seen, they come from

a place wherethey literally cannot trust anyone, not even their

families. I don't think thateven Cassie will believe Eran's innocence

based on his word alone. In fact--"

Suddenly he stopped. His eyes went blank.

"Lecrian?" Themis asked, concerned. The same thing happened to

him just beforehe was injured in the battle the night before.

Then Lecrian shook his head, coming to. "The Animorphs can

help."

"What?" Ariana asked.

"Jake is coming."

Just then, the door opened and a sleepy Jake walked in. Groggily

and dressed inloose night clothing, he bid everyone "good

morning." Once he saw Eran, though,his eyes hardened, and

suddenly all fatigue disappeared. Glaring at Eran as he passed him,

Jake approached King Themis.

"Sorry to be so abrupt," Jake said in a low, silky voice. "But what

is going onhere? He's supposed to be in custody until the trial starts

at noon."

King Themis decided to be straightforward. "We are trying to find

a way to prove him innocent. I'm sorry, but I have known Eran for

all of his life. He has always been loyal and honorable and totally

trustworthy. I find it hard to believe that he would participate in a

plot to destroy you and your friends. Iappologize, but are you sure

you didn't make a mistake last night?"

Jake laughed bitterly. "I see. Believe it or not, I understand

perfectly.But, you see, I thought all about that, too. I looked hard

for an alternative.Real hard. But his scent was the only one ...

there?" Jake trailed off, as heremembered what happened. His

barely contained rage lessened, and uncertainty creeped in a little.

Jake looked again at Eran.

"Your Majesty," Jake asked with no hint of anger. "Did Eran ever

leave the castle since you've captured him? I mean, has he ever

been out of the soldiers'sight since?"

Themis was confused. "No. But, why?"

Jake turned back to the king, suppressed urgency in his face.

"I need to morph. Now."

Themis didn't understood, but nodded anyway. Jake immediately

tore off his outer clothing, revealing his skin tight morphing outfit.

Ariana turned away, embarrassed.

Then Jake began to change, starting with a wave of silvery grey fur

flowing down his back. At first, Lecrian thought that Jake was

going to warg again, but Jake didn't grow. In fact, Jake didn't

change overall size at all. Instead, his face bulged out, and his

mouth split wider, revealing sharp teeth. His earscrept up the sides

of his head and became pointed. His fingers shortened, his nails

grew and thickened, and his hands became paws. Lecrian could

hear Jake'sspin streach as his tail srouted beneath him. Ariana

groaned as she listened,still refusing to watch. His legs shortened

and his arms lengthened. His kneesreversed direction with a

sickening crunch, and Jake fell forward onto fourlegs, standing on

what used to be his hands and toes. Soon, the morph wascomplete.

It looked similar to the warg.

"What do you call that?" Lecrian asked, intriqued.

It's a wolf. It's related to Homer, but a lot more serious.

"Homer?"

Never mind.

Jake trotted over to Eran. Frightened, Eran took an involuntary step

backwards, but Jake still got close enough to take a good sniff.

Jake looked up at Eran, and Eran had a nice, long look at the calm

and cunning intelligence in thewolf's eyes.

You didn't wash yesterday, did you?" It was more of a statement

to himself than a question. Themis, I need to go check something

out. If the others come, could you please tell them that I'll be back

soon?

"Yes," Themis said, more confused then before.

Thank you, and Jake loped out of the door, scaring a servant

carrying a tray.Ariana heard Jake's nails click on the stone floor as

he ran away.

Effortlessly, Jake bounded to the room where Tobias and Ax were

attacked and searched the room again, but he didn't find anything

significantly different.There was still Ax's, Tobias's, Eran's, and the

puzzling two birds' scent, aswell as lingering traces of gunpowder,

as well as other barely detectablesmells. Nothing has changed. He

didn't miss anything the night before. Hefocused on the way the

"other smells" and Eran's scnet intertwined, trying tosee if he got

the same mental picture as before. He did.

And that meant that maybe, just maybe, Eran was innocent. At

least not provenguilty.

On his swift way back to where Themis, Lecrian, Eran, and Ariana

waited, he ran into Rachel, for once looking a little less than

perfect.

Good morning, he greeted her. She grunted her irritated

greeting. He sloweddown to a slow trot so she could jog next to

him. I thought you were supposedto be asleep.

"As if," Rachel said grumpily. "As if I would actually sleep with

Ax missing, Tobias nearly dead, and his would-be assassin being

someone I had trusted. No chance in the world, Jake."

Rachel, I'm going to Themis right now. I know you're not going to

like this,but I think Eran is innocent.

Rachel sneered skeptically. "Wasn't it you who said he was guilty

in the first place?"

Rachel, he said as they neared the room, Eran was at the party

last night.

"So?" she challenged as they entered the room.

Look at him, Rachel. Jake urged. Just look at him.

And Rachel did, with an eye more practiced for spotting dirt than

Jake's. Moreclearly than Jake had, she saw the dirt and grime on

Eran. But she was stillskeptical.

"Yeah, he's dirty. Too dirty for a party, but couldn't he have done

this afterthe dance? You know, when the dragon attacked?"

I don't know. He could have, but the sweat on him is more than a

day old.

Ariana's eyes went wide. Her eyes grew wider as Jake continued.

Don't you see? The Eran who went to the party had danced, drunk

punch, wore cologne, and had faint traces of Ariana's perfume on

him. That same Eran hadfaint traces of the powder he used to

poison Marco about where his hands would

be. And, of course, he used a gun. But this Eran never even got

ready for theparty. He's not clean. His sweat, the dirt, the boar's

blood, everything is still there. No hint of punch, or perfume, or

gunpowder on him. And he hasnever been near Tobias's room. He's

innocent.

The room was silent. The only one who didn't look shocked,

stunned, or surprized was Lecrian. He looked mildly pleased.

"Jake," Rachel said as he began to demorph. "If Eran didn't do it,

then who did?"

His voice was heavy with weariness. I don't know, Rachel. I

reallydon't know.

After a short silence, Rachel continued. "Then the one who shot

Tobias got away, huh."

I guess so. Now more human than wolf, Jake gathered up his

night clothes andbegan to put them on as he demorphed.

"So, what do we do?" Rachel asked.

"I don't know. We sleep, I guess. There's nothing we can do now,

Rachel," hesaid, catching Rachel's look. "And it won't help either

Tobias or Ax any if weare too tired to think."

It looked as if Rachel was about to argue, but she didn't. "Yeah,"

she admitted. "You're right." And with that, she turned around and

walked out thedoor.

Jake appologized to Eran, said good bye, and left. All the hope they

felt whenJake proved Eran innocent gave way to sadness. For the

first time, Arianaunderstood the children. Their fear, their

loneliness, how much they dependedon each other ... she

understood.

She almost cried for them. She didn't hate them, anymore.

* * * * *

Queen Marah sat beside Tobias, holding his hand so her strength

could more easily flow into him. He was getting weaker,

depending on her more and more.She knew that she couldn't keep

it up for long.

She looked down hopelessly on her daughter's rescuer's feverish

face, knowing that sooner or later, her strength would be

exhausted. She knows the cycle.She has lost many good soldiers

and knoghts, before.

Rachel came in, looking very depressed and utterly tired.

"How is he?" she asked.

Marah sighed. "How about if you get your rest, Rachel?" she

suggested, not wanting to burden the girl further. But Rachel would

have none of it.

"Not until I know. So, is he getting better?"

"No. He isn't. He's actually getting weaker by the minute, now. I'm

sorry,"Marah said, not looking at Rachel as she approached her.

"But I can't keep this up forever. I'll do everything I can, but sooner

or later, I ... I won't haveany more strength to give. I am now

constantly forcing his heart to beat andhis lungs to breathe. If I rest,

even for a minute, I will loose him. And,sooner or later, I am going

to have to rest."

Tears shimmerred in Rachels eyes as tears flowed from Marah's.

But Rachel refused to cry.

"I'm not about to loose Tobias now," Rachel said stubbornly.

Marah didn't answer, not wanting to fight with her.

"How about my strength?" Rachel continued. "Can you use it to

help him?"

Marah almost said no, but stopped. She suddenly remembered

what the old magisaid when he defined her power He said that she

could transfer strength. Hedidn't say "give." He said "transfer."

Move.

"I'll try."

"I'll try," Marah said. She reached out and touched Rachel's

outstreached hand. Immediately, Marah felt stronger as Rachel's

fatigued but unquiting strengthflowed into her. Rachel's eyes

fluttered, and she began to sway.

"Go to the couch," Queen Marah instructed.

Rachel obediently staggered over to the soft couch and fell on it.

She was asleep before her head hit the coushins.

Marah turned back to Tobias and thought about what had just

happened. Rachel had offered her a unique solution, one that just

may save Tobias' life.

For the first time since she first began to lend Tobias her strength,

Queen Marah felt hope.

* * * * *

At noon, outside the castle walls ...

"Herlim!" Crimber called over his shoulder. "Hey, Herlim! I think I

found it!"

"Found what?" Herlim called back, coming to his brother. Crimber

was leaning over the steep moat bank, pointing down into the

mirky water.

"The thing that the metal plug was connected to," he said excitedly,

looking back to the submerged thing. Herlim looked over his

brother's shoulder, peeredthrough the mirk, and saw it, too. It was

ten feet under, in dirty, grimmy,brackish water, which in turn was

ten feet below them. The sides of the bankwere very steep.

"Somebody needs to get it," he said in a carefully neutral tone. He

had a mischievious look in his eyes.

"Hah!" Crimber exclaimed, not noticing Herlim's emotionless tone.

"This power of mine *is* useful. First with the dragon, and now to

find this."

"Yep," Herlim continued, straining to not give anything away.

"You found it."

Crimber recognized that tone, but he couldn't quite remember what

it me--

"AAAAAH!!!" he yelled as Herlim gave him a slight push from

behind. He windmilled his arms, trying to keep his balance. Herlim

gave one more slighttap, and Crimber fell ten feet to the water.

PLOOSH!! The splash almost reached Herlim's gleaming eyes.

Crimber disappeared from view, hit the bottom and accidently

grabbed the metal stick. He surfaced, spit water from his mouth,

and glared angerly at hisgrinning brother. Herlim's sides shook in

silent laughter.

"Very funny," Crimber said. "That was very, very funny."

"Well," Herlim said weakly, covering his mouth now to hold his

glee in. "One of us had to get it. Might as well ... be ..." He couldn't

finish. He just burstout laughing. "Oh, it was PERFECT!

Absolutely perfect! You should have seen your face."

"Hysterical," Crimber said sarcastically. "I was going to call a

servant to help me when you pushed me in."

"What a good idea. Be right back," Herlim called, disappearing

from Crimber's view.

"Where are you going?"

"To get a servant, of course."

"YOU COME BACK HERE AND GET ME OUT!!!" Crimber

yelled.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M DOING? I'M GETTING YOU A

SERVANT!" Herlim yelled back gleefully.

And so, Crimber floated in the smelly, brackish water of the moat,

pouting grumpily.

* * * * *

"Sorry," a smelly, dirty, dripping wet Crimber said tightly, a look

of embarassed anger plastered onto his still-wet face. "But this is

all I found."He held out the still dripping weapon in his hand.

Themis took it. "Can I gonow?"

Themis nodded his head. Immediately, Crimber left after glaring

one last time at the still smirking,

trying-to-look-serious-and-innocent-and-failing-at-bothHerlim.

Themis dismissed him, too, rubbing his temples as if he had a

hugeheadache.

The trial, if it could be called a trial, had begun, but because the

defendant was the most trusted knight in the kingdom and fiance of

the King's onlydaughter, there wasn't an audience. There were

guards outside the doors, and acouple of scribes to record the

following, but nothing more. Only Jake, Rachel,Cassie, Marco,

Eran, Ariana, Lecrian and King Themis were there, though

normallyQueen Marah, Crimber and Herlim would attend, too.

For some strange reason, Lecrian was no longered bothered by the

mid-awake visions, so Lecrian could almost be cheerful. Almost.

Before Herlim and Crimber left to find the gun, Jake had told

everyone about what had happened earlier that day. Only Marco

wasn't totally convinced.

"This is a world of magic Jake," he argued. "Anything could

happen."

That was when Jake decided to ask Herlim and Crimber to find the

gun. And now they were gone, again.

"It that it?" Marco said sarcastically to no one in particular as the

brothers left the room. "Just a gun? Just a hand-held stick of

dynamite capable ofblackening your face like they do to Daffy in

Loony Toons? So tell me, Jake," hesaid, pointing to where Herlim

and Crimber disappeared. "Exactly why did youwant Happy and

Grumpy there to go scuba-diving in a fully equiped

algae-filledmoat for a soggy gun when we already knew that it was

a popper that shotBird-boy in the first place?"

"Because," Jake said calmly, fingering the bullet in his hand "I

think I was wrong last night."

"What? Fearless Leader Jake thinks he screwed up? What is this

world coming to?"

"Marco," Jake said seriously. "Since when did Eran know how to

use a gun?"

Marco's mouth froze in mid-retort. "Oh."

Jake approached Themis. "May I see that, your Majesty?" he asked,

motioning for the gun.

"Of course," he replied, gladly handing the wet gun over.

Jake gave both the spent bullet and the gun to Marco.

Marco seemed to have received an unspoken message, because he

immediately loaded the bullet into the gun. Then he tossed it to the

perplexed Eran, who caught it easily.

"Hit that door," Marco challenged. "From where you are. With the

gun."

Then Cassie understood what was going on. Rachel didn't, but

didn't say anything.

Eran looked confusedly at the blunt hunk of heavy metal in his

hand. He looked at Lecrian and Ariana for help, but they looked

about as lost as he felt. He only knew of one way to hit the door

from a distance with a blunt weapon.

Eran drew back his arm, then swung it forward, throwing the

unbalanced weapon with expertice. Just before the gun could dent

the door, Themis reached out with his magic and stopped it,

suspending it in mid-air.

"Good catch." Cassie looked at the still skeptical Marco. "Now are

you convinced? He doesn't know how a gun works."

"What's going on?" Rachel asked, speaking for herself and the

royal family.

"You'll see," Jake answered simply.

"He may just be a real good actor," Marco responded to Cassie. He

walked calmly to the suspended weapon and pulled it out of

Themis's hold. Silently, withouthesitation, he pulled back on the

safety and pointed the weapon straight atEran.

None of the royal family reacted, not even Eran.

The same was not true for the the Animorphs.

"What you you doing?!?" Cassie cried, alarm leaping to her eyes.

"Marco! Don't!" Jake yelled as he realized what was happening.

Rachel just ran at Marco.

Marco pulled the trigger. There was a small click. Then a huge

"Uph!" as Rachel tackled Marco hard. She pinned him to the

ground as the gun skittered away.

"What are you, crazy?!?" Rachel yelled as Cassie and Jake caught

up to her. "What are you trying to do, shooting Eran?"

"What are you? Insane and stupid?" Marco yelled back angerly.

"The pathetic bullet's dead. It's a blank. A dud. A vegetable. It can't

move a millimeter. Itcan't hurt a fly even if it is snuggled up next to

it, much less a full-grownjock thirty feet away."

"What?" Rachel said, her intense face going blank.

"The stupid bullet's already been shot, duh."

Rachel let him go and helped him to his feet. "Just don't ever do

that again," she said angerly.

"Yes, mom," he replied irritably.

"Now, why did you do that?" Jake asked.

"He wanted to see his reaction," Cassie answered for Marco,

having regained her composure. "Isn't it?"

Marco nodded. "Well, at least one of you isn't an idiot," he

muttered, glaring at Rachel as he favored a leg and rubbed a sore

arm.

"I didn't see a reaction," Cassie continued before Rachel could say

anything. "And it would seem out of character, anyway."

"How's that?" Jake asked.

"Even if Eran had a motive for wanting to hurt Tobias, which he

didn't, he wouldn't have used an unfamiliar weapon in such a

cowardly way."

"So," Jake said peppily. "Are we agreed? About Eran?"

Rachel said "Yes." Cassie nodded.

Marco said "Sure, why not? All we have to risk if we are wrong is

a shot in the back. You know, I could still think of a dozen other

ways how he could still be faking, but don't worry," he grinned.

"I'll watch our backs."

Rachel rolled her eyes. "Then I *know* we are dead. But all of this

still doesn't help us find whoever shot Tobias and kidnapped Ax."

"One down, ten billion to go," Marco agreed.

Ariana was about to speak up, but Lecrian gently shushed her. "

They need to talk this through," he whispered, "without

interferance." She, Eran and Themistook the hint and remained

silent, intently watching the four remainingchildren.

Cassie gently touched Jake's arm and looked at him straight in the

eye. "Jake, can you tell us what you know? You know, exactly

what did you find and piecetogether?"

Jake looked doubtful. "A little," he consented. "There had been a

fight of some kind, but I can't find any clues as to who Tobias and

Ax were fighting. Thosetwo seemed to follow each other

throughout the room, Ax slashing up furnitureand walls and Tobias

overturning a table, but no one else was there. Ax's scentstopped

where the table was, while Tobias went to the door, where he

opened itand got shot. The fake Eran was about twenty feet away

when he shot Tobias, and he never

entered the room. Instead, he went back to Eran's room, to the

closet where Eran was hidden, and disappeared. And Ax didn't go

after him. Instead, he morphed to harrier and flew out the broken

window."

Lecrian felt a chill in the air. A fight against an enemy that wasn't

there, Ax abandoning Tobias and not going after the imposter, and

the imposter framing hisbest friend perfectly, even disappearing

exactly where Eran would be found.

Apparently, the others felt just as spooked.

"Ooooooooo-kay," Marco said. "I felt *that* chill go down my

spine." He looked in frightful awe at Jake. "How in the world did

you get any sleep with thatX-Files-slash-ghost-slash-conspiracy

story floating around in your head?"

"More importantly," Rachel interjected, "what does it mean?"

"I don't know," Jake admitted, answering both questions.

There was a short, uneasy silence, broken by Cassie. "The only one

who knows what happened," Cassie said softly, "is Tobias."

"Yeah," Rachel agreed, "but I'm still not going to let anyone wake

him up."

"We may not have to," Jake said, the wheels turning in his head.

He looked at Lecrian. "I think you know what happened."

Lecrian was surprized. "Me?"

"Or at least you can find out. With your power."

That turned everyone's heads. Lecrian suddenly found himself to be

the center of attention, as Jake, Rachel, Cassie, Marco, Ariana,

Eran, and even his fatherstared at him.

"I ... " Lecrian stammered. "I, uh, I guess I could. But I'll need

Tobias to do it."

"Why?" Rachel challenged defensively.

"Because he was there. I'll need to focus through him to call up that

specific event up. But when I do, everyone will see it," he

cautioned. "Sorry, heappologized, "but that is how it has always

worked before."

"Let's do it!" Rachel said automatically. One by one, the other

Animorphs nodded. Even gentle, tender Cassie agreed to see

everything that happened toTobias and Ax.

Lecrian looked at the scribes, and at his friend, sister, and father

with a question in his eyes. Both Eran and Themis really wanted to

know. Ariana didn'twant to see it, but she decided to go through

with it if Eran was going to. The scribes shuttered and didn't look

at the prince.

"So," King Themis said. "Everyone's going?" By 'eveyone'

meaning everyone except the scribes.

"Yes."

Themis nodded, and instantly everyone was in Tobias' room,

startling Marah so badly that she almost screamed for the guards.

With her were three servants.Themis raised an eyebrow when he

saw them.

"They are lending me strength," Marah explained when she

regained her composure, "so I could support Tobias better. What is

it?"

"We need to know what happened last night," Themis said grimly,

giving Lecrian a sideways look. Marah got the message.

"Are you sure that there isn't another way?" she asked, her face

going white.

"If there was, we wouldn't have to do this."

She instantly dismissed the servants after they lent her some more

of their strength. They staggered out of the room.

Lecrian pulled up a chair and sat by his mother. She reached out

and touched his shoulder, ready to help him if he needed it.

Lecrian placed a hand on the comatose Tobias' chest and began to

gather his power He paused to look around the room, at the heroes

and at his familystanding around the bed.

"You may all want a seat," he warned, then he unleashed his

power.

The world shifted. Suddenly, everyone found themselves in Tobias'

old room, watching Tobias and Ax morphing to human. Tobias

was by the window, and Ax bythe door.

~~~

I'm surprized Marco kept you from the refreshments for so long,

Ax, Tobias said as he looked out the window. Ax stopped

morphing, then reversed it.

Well, Tobias continued, not concerned about Ax's silence.

Time to go back. He turned around and looked at Ax just as he

made the transition from bird to human. He did a double-take. He

just stared at Ax with intense, golden brownhawk eyes.

What? Ax asked. What is it?

While he still had hawk eyes focused on Ax, Tobias asked weirdly,

"Hey, Ax, what's that?"

Ax looked around, alarmed. I don't see anything.

The harsh golden brown eyes faded into Tobias' tender, soft blue

eyes. His skook his head in confusion.

"I thought I saw something, but it's not there anymore. It looked

like a ghost." Tobias laughed. "Guess I've been using these lame

human eyes for too long. Butcome on, Ax-man, morph already."

Ax didn't morph. Instead, he turned around and lowered the

wooden plank that served as a primative lock, barring the door.

"What? Ax-man," Tobias asked uncertainly, approaching him.

"What're you doing?"

Without warning, Ax attacked. His tail was nothing more than a

blur as it flew at Tobias.

Faintly, so faintly that it was inaudible, a voice cried "no"

Hawk instinct that was permanently infused into Tobias took over.

It saved his life.

"Ahhhh!!!" Tobias cried as he dived to his left.

Ax almost missed. A shallow gash opened on Tobias's arm.

Tobias clutched at his wound and backed away from Ax, his eyes

wide in disbelief.

"Ax! What are you doing?!"

Faintly, ever so faintly, a voice tried to make itself heard. Tobias,

run. Get out of here. I can't help it. I can't stop him.

Ax struck again, but it was slow and awkward. With no time to

demorph, Tobias jumped back unscathed, but he tumbled

backwards onto the couch, helpless.

Ax brought his tail up for a final strike. He hesitated.

That hesitation was all Tobias needed. He pushed himself off the

couch and shoved Ax back in one motion, then ran as fast as he

could toward the barreddoor.

Ax suddenly recovered, and with all of his natural grace and speed

leaped, landing between Tobias and the door.

Tobias slipped. Of all things, he slipped. He fell with a painful

"Uph!" in front of the crazed Ax. With the helpless boy laying

before him, Ax struck.

no

He missed. The tail blade hit the cold stone floor sending sparks

flying everywhere. The tail tip splintered. Given another chance,

Tobias swept his legunder Ax, sending him tumbling to the

ground, got up, and ran to the door.

"I don't know what's gotten into you, Ax," Tobias told him as he

raised the bar with clumsy human hands, "but I'm getting help."

duck And this time, Tobias heard. Tobias immediately ducked

down, narrowly avoiding another bullwhip slash that shreaded the

tapestry on both sides of thedoor and carved a dull slash across it.

Ax struck over and over in a rapid volley, chasing Tobias away

from the door, but each swipe was slow compared to Ax's normal

lightning quickness, andeach one was aimed wrong, as if it was

deflected.

Chased by Ax, Tobias ran towards the table. Just as Ax struck

again, Tobias dived under it. Ax's blinted blade buried itself in the

top, poking through justover Tobias's head.

"You're possessed, aren't you?" Tobias realized. "And you're

fighting. That's why I'm not dead yet."

Get out of here, Tobias, Ax's captive soul plead as distant

thunder sounded. Run.

"Hold on, Ax-man," Tobias encouraged him as he scurried to the

far side of the table. Placing his hands above him on the underside

of it, Tobias stood. Thetable end lifted, and with a forward push it

toppled over, burying Ax under itsawkward weight. With his tail

caught onto it, he couldn't dodge.

Ax thrashed and flailed vainly under the table. Approaching

thunder boomed.

"Keep fighting it, Ax," Tobias urged as he blew past the struggling

Andalite and ran towards the door. He threw the door open.

On the other side, just thirty feet away, stood Eran, holding a gun

pointed directly at him.

CRACKKKK/BOOM!!! The gun exploded in the same instant that

the castle shook.

Instantly, Tobias jerked backwards off his feet. He fell, and didn't

move. A red spot grew from his chest, spreading rapidly.

Something huge far away roared.

Hatred glowing from his eyes, Eran said, "Walk away from ~that,~

Bird-boy."

Eran blew his smoking gun, then grinned cockily at Ax, who

finally managed to free himself. Ax glared at Eran.

"Having a hard time controlling space-boy?" Eran said.

~~~

While this was happening, Marah couldn't feel a heartbeat from

Tobias. She loosened her hold on Lecrian so she could devote more

energy on the boy.

Immediately, everything changed. The image stalled, then swirled

away in a tornado.

"No!" Lecrian cried as he lost what little control he had.

Suddenly, everyone was washed up in Lecrian's power. Random

images flashed. People spoke in a distorted order.

Everything was a mess.

~~~

"Ax! What are you doing?" Cassie demanded.

Ax had his tail blade to Jake's throat.

"Are you NUTS?"

Prince Jake has been taken.

Prince Jake, something is wrong. This does not feel like a Sario

Rip.

We could never make war again. Not open war, at least. The

conflict would have to be carried on by different means.

Fusion bomb? Ax laughed. A fusion explosive? That's what it

was?

Dolfins hid in an ocean.

I assumed it was a small proton-shift weapon, at least.

Something burning fell toward the earth as the dolfins watched.

I don't run out on people who've saved my life

No longer a savage battle. Now it must be a chess game.

The fire hit. The world exploded.

There would be rules.

I just keep hoping this is all some big misunderstanding. How do

we fight against a traitor? An Animorph?

"Once I put you and your friends in a position to give your former

species a chance ..."

Found one! I don't know the yield, but it's definately an explosive

devise!

If I do this, do you promise that they will be safe?

"And now you are in a position to help the Hork-Bajir. Do they not

deserve the same chance as humans?"

"And Crayak plays the same long, patient game the Ellimist does."

"Yes."

"What? Not so brave now, little Jake?"

"I'm saying maybe Crayak wants us there. Maybe he wants us to

say yes. And you know what?"

"Crayak doesn't like you, Big Jake. Any of you."

"That's not because he thinks we'll win."

"Why me? Why stick me with this job? What am I, some kind of

hero?"

"You're not even in high school yet and you're the most wanted

person in the Yeerk Empire. Visser Three would trade his Blade

ship for your head on a stick."

Limits.

"Tobias, you are a beginning. You are a point on which an entire

time line may turn."

"If you ever find yourself desperate, Rachel. At an end. In need.

Remember this:"

"All will be lost if you do not do it."

I did what had to be done, alright?! I did what had to be done.

~~~

Having stabilized, Tobias, Marah reached out to her son again.

Lecrian regained a little bit of control and tried to focus on

whoever shot Tobias.

But something was wrong. After her first contact, her power

stopped working. Something was blocking her. Nullifying her.

~~~

"Saddler. Where's Saddler? The real one?" Rachel asked.

A boy looked at Rachel and Jake triumphantly.

"I guess we'll have to ask David, won't we?"

Brave words, but you're mine. Just like that Bird-boy of yours

was mine.

A gun! A gun? This kid has a gun?!

"I asked him what it was like when we morphed trout. Just to test

his memory."

Cassie touched Rachel. Rachel became dazed. Lethargic.

"And I answered that it wasn't bad except that the cracker-crumb

coating chafed a little and I was allergic to tartar sauce."

One Marco stood over another Marco, grinning wickedly.

"Now could you all stop playing that game? I'm afraid I'll miss a

punchline and Rachel will morph to grizzly and eat me before I

have a chance to say anything."

A huge eagle stood on a bedpost, near a bloodied bird.

What are you doing, hurting Tobias?

Already there used to be six of you and now there are just five.

Pretty soon, Jake, it'll be four.

A shifting Marco stood over a broken bird, bat in his hand. He

laughed.

I think Tobias is dead. I think David killed him.

You can't judge me! You're not God!

Nooooooo!

Tobias

Ax and Rachel carried a rat to a deserted island. The rat was

wailing in despair.

You can't do this! You can't do this!

is

A hawk stood alone in a meadow, crying.

A rat wailed loudly, alone on an island.

"You know what I want. You *know.*"

dead.

And Tobias continued to weep. And David continued to moan.

~~~

The vision faded into blackness, then faded away.

Lecrian, red-faced and feverish, held his head in both trembling

hands. The Animorphs were dead silent. Even the royal family had

nothing to say about thenightmare.

After a few seconds, Marco broke the silence. "Well. Those were

some memories I had no desire to revisit." The others nodded their

assent.

Shakily, Marco continued. "It's David."

Rachel shot him a "so what" look. "We all know that that was

Davey-boy." Rachel spat.

Marco gave her an "are you dumb?" look. "No. I meant that it was

David who shot Tobias."

"No way," Rachel said.

"Yes way." Marco countered.

"But David is a rat."

"Wasn't he always?"

"He's a nothlit."

"So was Tobias."

"So how come he has his powers back, smarty. And why should he

be here?"

"Crayak," Jake answered grimmly. He looked down on Tobias.

"Crayak can and would give David his power back, just like the

Ellimist gave Tobias his. In fact, I wouldn't put it past Crayak if he

was responsible for us suddenly showing uphere and sent David

after us."

For a while, nobody said anything. Cassie stood next to him, giving

him her support.

"Let's go rescue Ax," he said.

Everyone agreed. The rest of the day was spent preparing for an

attack on Zilos' castle. Dragons flew in, soldiers sharpened swords

and polished armor, farmersdonated food, a search was conducted

for David (he wasn't found anywhere in the

kingdom), and the Animorphs rested.

* * * * *

When Ax woke up, he couldn't tell when or if he opened his eyes.

There was complete and total darkness all around him. He couldn't

feel any aircirculation. In the distance, he could hear water slowly

drip.

He blindly reached forward and soon found a barrier. It was

smooth, polished and curvedup above him and to his sides.

Ax morphed bat and used echolocation. His suspicions were

confirmed. He was in a flawless globe. A force field of sorts.

This is not good, Ax thought as he demorphed.

About fourteen hours and fifty-seven minutes later, he heard a door

open and close, then two sets of foot steps of two-legged creatures

approach.

A light slowly appeared, so Ax could see the silouhette of the iron

bars of a door.The light got brighter, and Ax had to shield his eyes

from the glare.

"Well, well, well. Here's the newest addition to my collection," a

familiar voice said.

As Ax's eyes slowly adjusted to the dim light, Zilos' eternally

young face appeared through the grate. Pale blue eyes as hard as

agates shone in malice ashe looked on Ax.

Rage boiled up in Ax. You're not going to get away with this, you

... you yeerk filth.

"I already have. What's left of your friends are coming for you, but

I have a surprize for them. But first, I want to introduce you to

someone. An oldfriend." Zilos stepped aside, and Eran took his

place.

As much as he hated Zilos, Ax hated Eran more. Traitor! he

cried. You traitor!

"Got it in one, Ax-man, but not the one you think," Eran taunted

him.

What are you talking about?

Eran smirked a familiar smirk. "You mean you don't remember

me? I remember you." His smirk slowly gave way to a near-growl.

"I remember how you counted off the last minutes of my life,

Andalite. I remember how you tortured me for almost twohours by

counting down oh so accurately the time I had left. I didn't forget it,

Andalite, and now you're going to pay."

David?! Ax cried in disbelief. But you're a nothlit.

"And you made sure of it, didn't you. Well, I'm not a nothlit now,

am I."

How... Ax began, but couldn't quite finish.

Eran/David smirked again. "I'm not telling you this secret. Fair's

fair. You kept a secret from me, I keep a secret from you." David

stepped away. Zilosreappeared as David walked away.

"I bet you're going to say that your friends are coming to save you.

You know, you'd be right, except for one thing."

And what would that be? Ax asked irritably.

Zilos laughed. "I want them here. I want King Themis, his family,

and your four friends to be as close as possible."

Why?

"You'll see," he teased as he turned away. The light followed him.

Soon, Ax heard a heavy door open and shut. A few minutes later,

he could hear the soundof water dripping again in the stone cold

silence.

Ax tried to keep them talking as long as he could so he could see

his surroundings. He looked for a possible way out.

There wasn't. No way to escape. No way to warn Prince Jake and

the others of David or the trap Zilos had planned.

He was failing them. Again. Just as he had failed Tobias. His

brother wouldn't have failed them, as he was.

If Andalites could cry, Ax would've. So, he cried the way all

Andalites cry. In his hearts.