Author's note IMPOTRTANT: Grr....why doesn't the damn thing work for
thought speak? Oh well. Anyway, for R/T fans, this story is not going to
end with R/M, just the danger of it will be suggested. Thanks to Mersang
for updating me. I will now refer to the Lord as both the Emperor and Lord.
Man....Rachel dead? Jeez....I'm surprisingly upset by this...and they say boys
don't know how to be emotional. Anyway, this will most likely end the
series in another way. By the way, if anyone can tell me which character
from another well-known saga inspired a few of the Lord of the Council's
lines, I'll award them with 1000,000 points a big bowl of strawberry ice
cream.
MARCO'S POV
We emerged from the cinema, her laughing and me drinking quietly on a coke. She was laughing at another joke I had cracked.
I don't know why I joke so much. I guess I think it's the best way to get through what we have to. But right now, I was just trying to keep the rare moment of being friendly with Rachel going. And it was working. My constant snipes at the film had had her snorting and laughing throughout.
"So, what do you want to do now?" she asked.
That took me by surprise. I had assumed we would have had enough of each other by now and go our separate ways. But apparently not.
"Um...you wanna get something to eat?"
She stared at me, "Marco, you just ate a large popcorn!"
I shrugged, "What's your point? I'm still hungry".
She considered, then nodded, "Yeah, me too. Let's go".
As with most entertainment districts, the nearby McDonald's was about 20 meters away. We walked in, got our burgers and then sat down to eat.
As I chewed hungrily, I was aware that she didn't take her eyes off me. It was like she was evaluating me in some way. It was uncomfortable and I squirmed a bit. Then she stopped and began to pick at her French fries.
"They've been quiet", she whispered, referring of course to the Yeerks.
I nodded, "Tobias hasn't seen anything and if they were up to something he would have seen it. Or at least, he usually does".
"Tobias is great. He's our eye in the sky".
I don't know why I said what I did next. But I did. I just blurted out one of my many observations that I usually keep to myself.
"He's the reason you can get through this".
She didn't look at me. She stopped moving. Her eyes just stared at her meal.
Then she mummured, "Yeah, he's my inspiration. I mean, how can we complain when we look at the stuff he's gone through?" "We all go through our own personal battles, Rachel", it didn't sound like me talking, I'm not usually that philosophical in front of people, but I went on, "Tobias has sacrificed everything he used to have. But now he's earned a lot too".
"Like what?" she looked up at me.
"True friends for one. He never had any before. Only Jake really. Now he's got us all. Ax included. But he's also got", I took a deep breath, "He's got you now".
She glared at me sharply, "What do you mean?"
I sighed. WHY had I started this conversation?
"Rachel, it's not difficult to see you guys are sort of attached to each other".
She bristled as if ready to snap at me, to tell me to mind my own business. But she relaxed and leaned back in her chair.
"Yeah. I guess we are. Sort of".
There was an extremely awkward silence. Very awkward. I pretended to be fascinated with the wrapping of my burger.
"I'm sorry", I said eventually, "It's not my place to form opinions on other people and then tell them".
She shook her head slowly, blonde hair glistening, "No, it's okay. I do like Tobias. It's just some times I wish that I could...I don't know, be normal with him. Do normal girl-guy stuff with him. Flying is fun, but once in a while I'd like to do...you know, the kind of stuff we're doing".
I nodded. Jeez, both of them were going through a lot. But then again, having your mother as one of the Yeerk's most powerful leaders wasn't fantastic either.
But pity is not something I like or enjoy.
ON THE BRIDGE OF COUNCIL LORD'S SHIP
Quiet the Emperor ordered as the ship drew closer to the Andalite Refugee Vessel.
The Taxxons shut the engines off and the Yeerk ship drew closer. It was cloaked, invisible to the large but helpless Andalite ship.
The Council Lord's Ship was of the same design of Visser Three's Blade Ship, but ten times larger. On the Bridge the Council Lord stood.
He was tall. That was the first impression. At least three metres tall. What race he was remained a mystery. Clothed in black robes, swathed in ebony. On his head was a steel-coloured helm, with two gaping holes for his eyes although nothing could be seen within. On his helm was a decorative crown, that consisted of six horns and various other blades that thrust out at other angles. His gloves too were metal and studded.
He chuckled in thought speech as the Yeerk ship's airlock suddenly locked onto the Andalite vessel's and the hatch was thrown open. He strode down to the airlock where one thousand black uniformed, heavily armed and armoured Hork-bajir controllers were waiting.
Move into the ship. Kill all in your path
With a roar the Hork-bajir rushed out and knocked down the Andalite's door in a few swift kicks of their taloned feet. Then they rushed in to the vessel, firing their dracon beams at the Andalite refugees.
The Andalites were not defencless. The one hundred warriors that were on the ship fired back with their own weapons, and Hork-bajir dropped. However, they were outnumbered and outgunned. They were shot and when they fell the Controllers hurled themselves at the women and children Andalites. They fired and then leapt at them, swiping with their elbow, knee and wrist blades. In a few minutes the Andalites were hacked down and cut to pieces.
The Emperor sneered beneath his helm. So much for the great Andalite warriors, undefeated warriors that knew no fear to their last drop of blood. They were mortal, they screamed as they were cut down.
The Age of the Andalite is over. The time of the Yeerk has come.
He turned and headed back to the Control Room.
Now the last survivors of the most recent attack have been dealt with, set co-ordinates for Earth. It is time to pay a visit to Visser Three.
MARCO'S POV
It was dark. I was walking home with her. Taking her back to her place. I didn't really know why. She was more than capable of looking after herself. More than capable. But still there I was with her.
We didn't speak. We hadn't spoken since we left McDonald's. We didn't need to. It was just nice to be there with her and not argue for once. Or be fighting for our lives.
We reached her house. She stopped.
"Thanks, Marco. I needed that".
I blinked, "Needed what?"
"To get out a bit. To talk. And not worry so much".
"Oh, no problem".
What happened next was one of the last things I expected. I felt one of her fingers touching my face gently. Instinctively, I raised my head to look at her and then I saw her lean forward and kiss me.
It was a wonderful feeling. Her lips were so soft...and then her arms were around me and the kiss deepened.
Suddenly, it all came back to me. Rachel....Tobias...this wasn't right.
I gasped, "No...no!" I pulled away and stepped back in horror.
I didn't stop to look at her. I just turned and walked off quickly. I heard her gasp behind me. I didn't know why. I just left. I just left her standing there in the dark.
It was very dark. Hawks don't see well in the night. But one saw well enough to see what had happened.
MARCO'S POV
We emerged from the cinema, her laughing and me drinking quietly on a coke. She was laughing at another joke I had cracked.
I don't know why I joke so much. I guess I think it's the best way to get through what we have to. But right now, I was just trying to keep the rare moment of being friendly with Rachel going. And it was working. My constant snipes at the film had had her snorting and laughing throughout.
"So, what do you want to do now?" she asked.
That took me by surprise. I had assumed we would have had enough of each other by now and go our separate ways. But apparently not.
"Um...you wanna get something to eat?"
She stared at me, "Marco, you just ate a large popcorn!"
I shrugged, "What's your point? I'm still hungry".
She considered, then nodded, "Yeah, me too. Let's go".
As with most entertainment districts, the nearby McDonald's was about 20 meters away. We walked in, got our burgers and then sat down to eat.
As I chewed hungrily, I was aware that she didn't take her eyes off me. It was like she was evaluating me in some way. It was uncomfortable and I squirmed a bit. Then she stopped and began to pick at her French fries.
"They've been quiet", she whispered, referring of course to the Yeerks.
I nodded, "Tobias hasn't seen anything and if they were up to something he would have seen it. Or at least, he usually does".
"Tobias is great. He's our eye in the sky".
I don't know why I said what I did next. But I did. I just blurted out one of my many observations that I usually keep to myself.
"He's the reason you can get through this".
She didn't look at me. She stopped moving. Her eyes just stared at her meal.
Then she mummured, "Yeah, he's my inspiration. I mean, how can we complain when we look at the stuff he's gone through?" "We all go through our own personal battles, Rachel", it didn't sound like me talking, I'm not usually that philosophical in front of people, but I went on, "Tobias has sacrificed everything he used to have. But now he's earned a lot too".
"Like what?" she looked up at me.
"True friends for one. He never had any before. Only Jake really. Now he's got us all. Ax included. But he's also got", I took a deep breath, "He's got you now".
She glared at me sharply, "What do you mean?"
I sighed. WHY had I started this conversation?
"Rachel, it's not difficult to see you guys are sort of attached to each other".
She bristled as if ready to snap at me, to tell me to mind my own business. But she relaxed and leaned back in her chair.
"Yeah. I guess we are. Sort of".
There was an extremely awkward silence. Very awkward. I pretended to be fascinated with the wrapping of my burger.
"I'm sorry", I said eventually, "It's not my place to form opinions on other people and then tell them".
She shook her head slowly, blonde hair glistening, "No, it's okay. I do like Tobias. It's just some times I wish that I could...I don't know, be normal with him. Do normal girl-guy stuff with him. Flying is fun, but once in a while I'd like to do...you know, the kind of stuff we're doing".
I nodded. Jeez, both of them were going through a lot. But then again, having your mother as one of the Yeerk's most powerful leaders wasn't fantastic either.
But pity is not something I like or enjoy.
ON THE BRIDGE OF COUNCIL LORD'S SHIP
Quiet the Emperor ordered as the ship drew closer to the Andalite Refugee Vessel.
The Taxxons shut the engines off and the Yeerk ship drew closer. It was cloaked, invisible to the large but helpless Andalite ship.
The Council Lord's Ship was of the same design of Visser Three's Blade Ship, but ten times larger. On the Bridge the Council Lord stood.
He was tall. That was the first impression. At least three metres tall. What race he was remained a mystery. Clothed in black robes, swathed in ebony. On his head was a steel-coloured helm, with two gaping holes for his eyes although nothing could be seen within. On his helm was a decorative crown, that consisted of six horns and various other blades that thrust out at other angles. His gloves too were metal and studded.
He chuckled in thought speech as the Yeerk ship's airlock suddenly locked onto the Andalite vessel's and the hatch was thrown open. He strode down to the airlock where one thousand black uniformed, heavily armed and armoured Hork-bajir controllers were waiting.
Move into the ship. Kill all in your path
With a roar the Hork-bajir rushed out and knocked down the Andalite's door in a few swift kicks of their taloned feet. Then they rushed in to the vessel, firing their dracon beams at the Andalite refugees.
The Andalites were not defencless. The one hundred warriors that were on the ship fired back with their own weapons, and Hork-bajir dropped. However, they were outnumbered and outgunned. They were shot and when they fell the Controllers hurled themselves at the women and children Andalites. They fired and then leapt at them, swiping with their elbow, knee and wrist blades. In a few minutes the Andalites were hacked down and cut to pieces.
The Emperor sneered beneath his helm. So much for the great Andalite warriors, undefeated warriors that knew no fear to their last drop of blood. They were mortal, they screamed as they were cut down.
The Age of the Andalite is over. The time of the Yeerk has come.
He turned and headed back to the Control Room.
Now the last survivors of the most recent attack have been dealt with, set co-ordinates for Earth. It is time to pay a visit to Visser Three.
MARCO'S POV
It was dark. I was walking home with her. Taking her back to her place. I didn't really know why. She was more than capable of looking after herself. More than capable. But still there I was with her.
We didn't speak. We hadn't spoken since we left McDonald's. We didn't need to. It was just nice to be there with her and not argue for once. Or be fighting for our lives.
We reached her house. She stopped.
"Thanks, Marco. I needed that".
I blinked, "Needed what?"
"To get out a bit. To talk. And not worry so much".
"Oh, no problem".
What happened next was one of the last things I expected. I felt one of her fingers touching my face gently. Instinctively, I raised my head to look at her and then I saw her lean forward and kiss me.
It was a wonderful feeling. Her lips were so soft...and then her arms were around me and the kiss deepened.
Suddenly, it all came back to me. Rachel....Tobias...this wasn't right.
I gasped, "No...no!" I pulled away and stepped back in horror.
I didn't stop to look at her. I just turned and walked off quickly. I heard her gasp behind me. I didn't know why. I just left. I just left her standing there in the dark.
It was very dark. Hawks don't see well in the night. But one saw well enough to see what had happened.