Aximili's Headache
Glad to see I'm not completely alone, came Marco's voice, but since it was impossible to determine direction from thought-speech, it took Aximili a few moments to locate him. He was soaring just within thought-speech range, and slowly heading for the forest – slowly, for he was constantly glancing back to see if anyone was following. What do we do? Marco continued. His tone was weary, tired, but alert – and still a bit suspicious.
We go back to camp, Aximili said, and it was not a suggestion.
Back to camp? Marco repeated. And do what? Explain to all those parents that we've lost their precious kids? Listen to four hours of Rachel's hysterical mom? Or –
No, Aximili interrupted, wanting to get the discussion over with as quickly as possible. We fetch help.
Who? Toby? Marco's voice acquired a grim tone as he continued; She might help. She won't like it, but she'll have to.
Not Toby, Aximili said. And not the auxiliary Animorphs, either; if they are gone too long at the time someone will begin to suspect something. Actually, if it is noticed that they are gone at all, someone will suspect something. I meant Issetha – my Yeerk.
Marco's head swung around and watched him over the distance, and the distrust was clear even on the osprey's often expressionless face. Ax, I've got a question, and I would really appreciate an honest answer.
Then ask.
Can I trust you? Marco demanded.
Do you have a choice? Aximili countered sharply, but then regretted it, stemmed the bitterness and added more softly; Yes. You can trust me.
Marco flapped his wings once before catching an updraft and soaring higher. For Jake and the others' sake, I hope you're sure about this. For your sake, too.
Mine?
Yep, your. Because if either you or Issetha betrays us, I'm going to kill you myself.
I do not doubt that for a moment, Aximili sighed. I would do the same.
Glad that we agree on something. Now let's go get that Yeerk.
Since Aximili knew well that they had little time, he was already demorphing as he landed and already running before the demorph was finished. He ignored the shouting group of parents that had in mere moments surrounded him and Marco; ignored someone calling his name, and ignored Marco's yell of Ax – wait!.
He galloped towards his scoop and the box that waited there. Poor Issetha had been alone all too long as it was, in that dull box, and then when he finally returned he was bringing bad news… he grimaced mentally.
Finally he reached his scoop and slowed to a trot for the final steps towards the box. He was about to say something in thought-speech, about to reach down to pick the Yeerk up when…
…when he realised that the box was empty.
Aximili stared down into it for a moment, blinking once. Letting his stalks scan the scene, he noted that also the two Hork-Bajir who had been guarding Issetha had disappeared.
Betrayed!
Idiot! Fool! Of course, as soon as he turned his back they –
"Aximili –" began a voice, and it was Toby; although she got no further than that.
What have you done? cried Aximili and advanced on the young seer with his tail raised and ready to strike. Where is she? What have you done?!
"Aximili, calm down –" continued Toby, nimbly keeping just out of tail's reach. A group of Hork-Bajir were hurrying forwards, ready to intervene if things got out of hand.
But it was Walter, Cassie's father, who intervened. Aximili felt hands grabbing his tail and cursed himself for forgetting to keep his stalks scanning. Walter spoke, in a voice as if he was trying to calm down a spooked horse; "Ax, the Yeerk –"
…which was all he had time to say before Aximili tore free and – and again he had forgotten his stalks. For now a stronger hand seized his tail, from the right, and yanked it down. Another, equally strong hand took hold of his left back leg, also from the right. It was Marco, almost completely in gorilla morph. Just then Cassie's mother Michelle appeared beside the morphing gorilla. She took hold of his left front knee. As the two pulled, and Michelle set her shoulder to Aximili's side, he fell right down and landed hard on his left side, all air sent out of his lungs. He had little time to refill with new air before Marco sat down his massive gorilla weight on him, still grasping his tail.
Sorry 'bout this, he muttered. But if it's the only way to calm you down…
Walter moved into Aximili's line of sight and said; "As I was trying to tell you, the Yeerk is unharmed, and –"
Aximili's more rational part made him stop to listen, instead of charging – as his more upset part held plans of. (That part was obviously unaware of Marco.)
"– we've simply moved her."
Moved her? Aximili repeated.
Walter nodded. "The water in that box was growing awfully cold. We moved her to a tank in our shed, and the… the Kandrona disc with her. Toby said she might need it."
Aximili blinked, frowning as his rational part was explaining this to the rest of him. You mean… Issetha isn't… hasn't been… killed? he said finally.
Again, Cassie's father nodded, now with Michelle beside him and also nodding.
"Now would anyone mind telling us where our daughter is?" Michelle continued in a sharper voice.
They have all been captured, Aximili found himself saying lowly, and he was proud of how steady his voice was. Issetha might be our only chance to get them out.
Both Cassie's parents grew very pale. Walter discreetly moved closer to his wife to take her hand.
Mixed feelings swamped through Aximili's head as he again picked up his Yeerk. She wriggled in his grasp, as if trying to break free, until… Shhh, Issetha, it's only me. Calm down.
The Yeerk calmed. Aximili stroked her back – or what would have to count as her back – with a thumb as he inspected her small form to make sure she was truly unharmed. What he saw made him frown. But realising there was nothing he could do without first speaking to the Yeerk he raised Issetha to his ear and suppressed the now-familiar revulsion as she squeezed through his ear canal and into his head.
Don't worry about the cracks on my skin, Issetha said before he had a chance to ask. It is because of that cold water. Another hour and I'd have been in trouble. But the skin'll heal in a day or so.
Aximili accepted that, and then thanked Cassie's parents for taking such good care of the Yeerk. They were beaming with pride as he left.
"You've got the Yeerk back?" was Marco's first question as Aximili trotted up to where he was talking to a worriedly frowning Toby. He must obviously have sent off the parents, for they were not to be seen.
Yes, Aximili confirmed.
"And you've calmed down?"
Yes, Aximili said, realising that perhaps he had acted a bit foolishly. Toby was giving him a very strange look.
"So what's she saying?" Marco demanded.
She claims that the Visser had planned to leave on a short trip yesterday, and – if he did go – will not be back until in two more days.
"That would give us some extra time," Marco said, frowning as he thought – but his voice was distinctly nervous. "They won't dare infest anyone until he's back. Right?"
Most likely not, Aximili agreed.
"And what says the Yeerk?" Marco inquired.
She has a name, Aximili reminded him, feeling insulted on his Yeerk's part.
Issetha laughed dryly in his head, a soft, fond sound, as she remembered their own discussions over the use of her name. Aximili ignored her.
"She probably has," Marco admitted dully. "But what's her opinion on my guess?"
Why not ask her yourself? Aximili replied grumpily.
Marco shrugged. "It's easier for you. She's in your head."
Thus, she can borrow my voice. Ask her yourself if you want to know what she thinks. I am not the Yeerk – I cannot read her thoughts.
Marco gave him a harsh look. "Ax, are you doing this just to be a pain in the neck?"
Define 'pain in the neck', Aximili said dryly.
Marco's eyes narrowed and glared at the Andalite, but then he gave up and spread his arms wide. "Alright. She has a name. Fine. Issetha, what do you think? Will that buy us time or not?"
If only you had been as easy to convince about my name… Issetha murmured quietly to Aximili, before taking over his thought-speech centres and saying to Marco; It should.
"That's a relief," Marco sighed. "If we are lucky, they will only be held in cages, unharmed, until the Visser comes back and can tell the Yeerks what to do."
"Unless they call the Visser and inform him about the captures," Toby theorized lowly. "Then he might return early. In fact, it's almost guaranteed that he will."
Even if he does return early, we have a few hours, Aximili concluded. It is safe to assume that we have at least five. It would hardly classify as a trip if it was shorter than that.
"True," Toby admitted.
Marco nodded grimly. "But this still means we need to get into the pool…"
But Issetha took momentary control and shook Aximili's head. No, she disagreed, using his voice, and Aximili found that he didn't mind. Marco gave him a quizzical look and he pointed at his head as an explanation. Marco grimaced, but listened when Issetha continued; No, not the pool. Visser One is sick of having you wreck parts of the pool. He's built up an exclusive chamber for capturing, holding and infesting Animorphs under the outer parts of town, away from the pool. It's his pet project.
They brought me to the pool, Aximili reminded her privately.
You were drugged, and you were alone, Issetha explained. there was only one of you. Now they have four. Just… just trust me.
Right then, something extremely weary within Aximili broke, and he growled; I am becoming quite tired of people doubting that, so for the final time: if I did not trust you, would I allow you in my head?
There was the radiant feeling of a smile coming from the Yeerk.
I do trust you, Aximili grumped in continuation. I suppose I even trust you with my life. Or, more correctly, I am already trusting you with my life, and the lives of my friends, so I do not have much to say about the matter.
"Ax?" Marco said, eyebrows raised.
Aximili jolted in shock at the sudden voice. When he regained his composure he replied with a simple Yes?.
"What was that about?"
Aximili stared at him, and his stalk-eyes blinked rapidly in embarrassment. Did I say all that out loud?
"Yes, in fact you did," Toby revealed, disquiet again in her dark eyes.
Oh, Aximili said eloquently. He felt Issetha stirring in the back of his mind, fond amusement mixed in with… with what? He wasn't sure he could interpret it. Probably just as well.
"If we are finished…" Marco said, giving Aximili one final, quizzical glance. "Would anyone mind discussing how to get Jake and the others out?"
"I think that was the matter at hand, yes," Toby agreed and nodded. "As Issetha was saying… not in the pool."
"Avoiding to attack the pool is always good," Marco muttered, having decided to ignore where the information originally came from. "But where will we need to go instead? And how do we get there?"
There were three Resistance-members working on the project as supervisors, Issetha told him. Therefore there is a secret entrance.
"Where?" Marco demanded.
Aximili felt a smile creeping into his eyes. I will show you, his Yeerk said simply. Or, rather, I will bring you to those who know.
"And this is where the trusting part comes in…"
Issetha added; Of course, they're all Controllers.
"…and makes a quick exit." Marco sighed. "Ah, well. What choice do we have?"
None, Aximili told him flatly.
"Then let's get this over with."
Where are we going, anyway? Marco asked, not much later, when the two of them were again in bird morphs and heading back towards the city, led by Issetha, who was controlling Aximili's bird morph. Flying still thrilled her; Aximili smiled mentally as he realised that she was acting a bit like a child with a new hologram emitter – not able to stop herself from making a few extra swoops – despite their grim mission.
I do not know, he told Marco truthfully.
But you trust her completely on this, don't you? Marco enquired dryly.
Yes, Aximili admitted simply. Then he felt Issetha twisting his wings to go into a dive, and forwarded her quick message of; Here it is. Do you see that sea-green-mud-coloured house?
A sea-green-mud-coloured house? Marco questioned. Who… no, wait, I'm not even going to ask. A Yeerk, right?
Yes.
Figures. Don't go into the house yet; let's check things out first.
The two lowered themselves slowly over the house, and Aximili privately had to confess that Marco was right; it was not pretty. Issetha made an insulted huff in the back of his mind but did not comment.
It seems safe, Marco said finally, grudgingly. Should we both go in or should one wait outside as backup?
What's the use of one person being backup? Issetha objected with Aximili's voice. And if assistance is needed inside, isn't it better for assistance to already be inside?
But if both of us are trapped, then game's over.
True, Issetha agreed. But then again, game'll be pretty much over even if only one of us is trapped. And besides, according to my calculator, there are three of us here. Use 'one of us' instead of 'both', please.
Who said that? Ax, or… the Yeerk?
The Yeerk, Issetha told him, in an offended voice. She easily kept back Aximili's sharper comment. Now shall we? I see an open window around the back.
Without waiting for a reply, she angled Aximili's wings to make him drop down towards the window. She dove through it. Marco uttered a low curse, but followed. The two landed in the middle of a large, sparsely furnished living room, that looked as if it hadn't been redecorated for at least twenty years. Aximili began demorphing.
Are you sure that's smart, Ax? Marco wondered.
No, Aximili said. Do you have a better idea?
Marco shot him a glare but began demorphing as well.
Essar! Tesma! Issetha called, taking control of Aximili's limbs and trotting towards the kitchen.
Marco, still half-demorphed and wondering to himself whether or not he should keep morphing – to gorilla – lumbered after clumsily.
"Who's there?" came a gruff voice from a stairway.
Issetha spun Aximili's body around and moved closer to see better.
An elderly man with a heavy book under his arm stood at the top of the staircase, and at the sight of Aximili's Andalite shape his eyes went very wide and he staggered a step back, face blanching. "An-an-andalite!" he cried, backing hurriedly even further away.
No! Issetha cried, launching Aximili up the staircase at a gallop. A awkward gallop, since it was a staircase. It's me – Issetha! She began coming out of Aximili's ear, and he held up a hand to catch her, slowing his momentum in order to stop just at the top of the staircase.
The old man peered forwards from under thick eyebrows. The book had fallen to the floor and lay forgotten at his feet. "Issetha?"
Yes, Aximili confirmed, holding the Yeerk before him, as if on display. He knew his tail was raised behind him, but couldn't help it.
The human-Controller's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "An Andalite host?"
Aximili felt his face twist in contempt at that – at what felt like a terrible insult – but with a jolt he realised… it was true. Yes, he said, holding Issetha back up to his ear, not letting his main eyes leave the Controller. An Andalite host.
"A voluntary Andalite host," continued the human, clapping his hands together in some strange mix of glee and surprised fascination. "No-one other than our Issetha could have managed it!"
Essar, Issetha complained, with Aximili's voice. You're flattering me.
"But it's true," objected the infested man. He gave Aximili a shrewd look. "Congratulations, Issetha, because this could not have been easy. I mean, of all things, an over-proud Andalite –"
Essar!
"Yes?"
Stop that. You'll make me make my host blush, which he will not appreciate, and more to the point; you're insulting him. He gets grumpy easily. Please don't make him grumpy.
"As you wish. I suppose you are here for the secret entrance." He winked conspiratorially at the Andalite.
Aximili nodded, not sure what to think about this Controller.
"Then… I'll be right back. Wait in the living room," Essar said, and disappeared off down the corridor. "Unless you prefer to stand there, halfway up the stairs," he called over his shoulder.
Aximili descended the stairs with some relief. Standing on stairs was very tough on his back legs. He joined Marco in the living room. Marco was human, grinning broadly.
"So… Ax," he said in that way which at once revealed he was going to make a really bad, got-nothing-better-to-do joke. "Inside information claims you're grumpy. I never would have guessed. Is it true?"
Not at all, Aximili snapped.
But it is, Issetha said privately, in the back of his mind, amusement in her voice.
I do not get grumpy, Aximili protested in a mutter.
Then explain your tone, pet, Issetha countered. If that's not grumpy…
"Pet"? Awfully familiar, do you not agree? the Andalite muttered. Not to mention insulting…
Aximili. I'm in your head. That's about as familiar as it gets. And on the insulting part… well, you're not exactly known for your delicate choice of words, either.
Aximili considered that for about a second. Then; I suppose you are right.
I love being right.
Yes. I am beginning to notice.
After another second or so the Yeerk added; I won't call you pet if you don't want me to.
I would prefer if you did not, Aximili admitted stiffly. But he couldn't help the mental smile as he continued; I have a name.
Andalite names are so formal, Issetha complained. It works fine at first, but after some time it only feels blunt.
Then call me Ax. Like the others do.
Ax is too… silly.
Silly?
It was invented by a thirteen year old who was too lazy to learn your complete name. Of course it is a tad silly. She sighed heavily. I suppose your real name will have to do for now.
"Ax?" Marco said.
Yes?
"You've got that look on your face again. That blank look. You're talking to the Yeerk, aren't you?"
Aximili nodded.
"What are you discussing?"
Names. Nicknames. And similar matters.
Marco frowned. "You know, just thinking about you two talking makes me feel a bit of schizophrenia coming on."
Do you want me to make sure you're mentally sane? Issetha offered pleasantly.
Marco sent a suspicious glare at her and her host, took a quick step back and slammed his hands protectively over his ears. "You're not getting into this head, Yeerk. Never!"
She was only joking, Aximili murmured, feeling how Issetha pulled back uncertainly.
"Issetha!" a voice called urgently from upstairs. The Controller began descending the staircase. His expression was no longer pleasant and shrewd; it was pained. "I'm sorry, Issetha, but you need to leave, and quickly."
What? Issetha asked with Aximili's voice, turning his body towards Essar and his host.
Essar's host's face contorted with even more regret and pained determination. "I'm sorry. But I've just betrayed you to the Yeerks."
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Author's Note;
Okay, got two pictures for you… one from this chapter and one from the next… find them here; http://www.livejournal.com/talkpost.bml?journal=stormfairy&itemid=16588
Moreover, the next chapter… will be up… *drumroll*… I don't know when. Don't forget to review.