Chapter Eight:
We all stared at the tiny, unmoving body on the stone.
What do we do now? Tobias asked.
We go to Cinnabon, Ax suggested.
Typical of Ax.
"Ax, now isn't the time," Cassie said, a note of reprimand in her voice.
I'm serious. This is a Helmacron affair. None of our concern. We should let the being fend for itself.
I was surprised. I had known that Ax was pretty ruthless, but it was obvious that the Helmacron wouldn't survive for two minutes out there by herself. By suggesting we leave her, Ax was basically pronouncing the death sentence.
"Yeah," Marco agreed. "Like in Star Trek. The Prime Directive. Don't interfere in other aliens' business."
Big surprise there. Of course Marco would draw his life lessons from Star Trek.
"This isn't Star Trek, Marco," Cassie countered. "The Prime Directive doesn't apply here. The fact of the matter is, aliens do interfere with other species. All the time. It's just the way the galaxy works."
"This is reality, Greg," chuckled Jake.
"Huh?" We all regarded him in confusion.
"Oh, come on, guys! Are you telling me that none of you have seen 'E.T.'?"
Ah, yes, Ax said. The film representing the Queen of the Ginneggg race as an alien visitor on Earth.
The what? Tobias asked.
"Hello! People!" blustered Cassie. "This is not trivia time! This is figure-out-what-to-do-with-marooned-Helmacron time!"
"Is she even alive?" I asked. The little alien hadn't moved much that I could see since being dropped off on the so-called "Sacred Mountain."
Yeah, she's breathing, Tobias reported.
Jake gave him an odd look. "You can see her breathing?"
Can I see her breathing? Can I *see* her? Jake, you're talking to the flying, mouse-eating, Yeerk-tail-kicking telescope, here, Tobias retorted, sounding somewhat ruffled.
"Yeah, sorry."
"I would take her home, Jake," Cassie said, "but we're repainting my bedroom, so I'm sleeping in the den. I can't hide her."
The issue at hand isn't what to do with the alien, Ax interrupted, but whether to do anything with the alien or not. I, for one, am in favor of letting other beings simply go about their business. Ax's sounded stuffy and self-righteous. Like normal, only more so.
"What, like Seerow did?" Jake asked.
Ax stiffened. Cassie glared reproachfully at Jake.
Long story behind that one. Suffice it to say, Seerow was an Andalite who made a mistake. A big one. And Jake probably shouldn't have mentioned him at all.
Andalites, as a species, learn from their mistakes, Ax said, in icy, measured tones. It's exactly because of Seerow that I suggest non- interference.
From the look on Jake's face, and the way Tobias was moving on his branch, I guessed Tobias was chewing him out in private. Tobias is Ax's best friend. Generally, it doesn't really show, since we're all good friends. Saving each other's lives about a million times will tend to cement a friendship. But Jake had crossed the line, and Tobias was letting him know it.
Jake massaged his temples slowly. "Okay, look. I'm sorry, Ax. I shouldn't have said that."
I understand, Prince Jake. Ax still sounded hurt, but like he was recovering.
"Good. Now, let's think about this," Jake continued. "Do we really want the responsibility of caring for a Helmacron outcast?"
There was a conflicting chorus of "Yes" and "No" from the others. I kept quiet.
"Okay," he sighed, "let's try this individually. Cassie?"
"It would be wrong to just leave her here."
"Gee, Cassie, I never would have guessed you'd feel that way." Marco. Of course.
"Marco, what's your vote?"
"No way. I'm with Ax on this one. Ain't no way we can start a little lost alien shelter. We're slightly busy people."
"Rachel?"
"Abstain," I said, shrugging. "I have no clue." I mean, come on. I'm supposed to help decide whether it's right or wrong to adopt an excommunicated Helmacron? Forget it. I was still trying to deal with the war and my sister.
"What? Mighty Xena doesn't know how to deal with marooned Helmacrons?"
I shook my head. "No, Marco. I'm too busy trying to figure out what to do with you."
"Aw, I'm touched you care."
Jake ignored our banter, as usual. "Tobias?"
All I can say is, if you do decide to help her, she'd better not start frightening the mice in my field.
"Is that a yes or a no?"
It's an . . . abstain, he said. I smiled.
"We all know Ax's position," Jake said. "And I'd have to vote that we should help her. I mean, it's only until her sentence ends. Severe Helmacron sentences probably last fifteen minutes. So, two votes yes, two votes no, two abstains. Tobias, Rachel? Either of you want to vote for real?"
I shook my head. Tobias ruffled his feathers. The message was the same.
"No. Okay. That leaves us with a dead tie."
We cannot go involving us in the affairs of aliens! Ax exploded.
"Said the alien who we rescued from the sea, after a space battle for Earth by two alien species," Marco muttered.
I demand that you interfere in my affairs!
We all turned to regard the Helmacron. She was standing on her four tiny legs. I couldn't be sure, at that size, but I have a feeling she was glaring up at us. This planet of yours is hostile! You cannot merely leave me here to perish! The entire Helmacron Empire would come crashing down on your heads for such a travesty!
But you were just kicked out of the Helmacron Empire, Tobias observed.
Oh. Yes. She fell silent at that, considering it. Nonetheless! This is your planet, and the well-being of the creatures on it is your concern! You are to interfere with me immediately!
"Well," I said, squinting at the Helmacron. "I guess that breaks the tie, doesn't it?"
I knew Ax would be grumbling for weeks over counting the Helmacron's 'request' as an official vote.
We all stared at the tiny, unmoving body on the stone.
What do we do now? Tobias asked.
We go to Cinnabon, Ax suggested.
Typical of Ax.
"Ax, now isn't the time," Cassie said, a note of reprimand in her voice.
I'm serious. This is a Helmacron affair. None of our concern. We should let the being fend for itself.
I was surprised. I had known that Ax was pretty ruthless, but it was obvious that the Helmacron wouldn't survive for two minutes out there by herself. By suggesting we leave her, Ax was basically pronouncing the death sentence.
"Yeah," Marco agreed. "Like in Star Trek. The Prime Directive. Don't interfere in other aliens' business."
Big surprise there. Of course Marco would draw his life lessons from Star Trek.
"This isn't Star Trek, Marco," Cassie countered. "The Prime Directive doesn't apply here. The fact of the matter is, aliens do interfere with other species. All the time. It's just the way the galaxy works."
"This is reality, Greg," chuckled Jake.
"Huh?" We all regarded him in confusion.
"Oh, come on, guys! Are you telling me that none of you have seen 'E.T.'?"
Ah, yes, Ax said. The film representing the Queen of the Ginneggg race as an alien visitor on Earth.
The what? Tobias asked.
"Hello! People!" blustered Cassie. "This is not trivia time! This is figure-out-what-to-do-with-marooned-Helmacron time!"
"Is she even alive?" I asked. The little alien hadn't moved much that I could see since being dropped off on the so-called "Sacred Mountain."
Yeah, she's breathing, Tobias reported.
Jake gave him an odd look. "You can see her breathing?"
Can I see her breathing? Can I *see* her? Jake, you're talking to the flying, mouse-eating, Yeerk-tail-kicking telescope, here, Tobias retorted, sounding somewhat ruffled.
"Yeah, sorry."
"I would take her home, Jake," Cassie said, "but we're repainting my bedroom, so I'm sleeping in the den. I can't hide her."
The issue at hand isn't what to do with the alien, Ax interrupted, but whether to do anything with the alien or not. I, for one, am in favor of letting other beings simply go about their business. Ax's sounded stuffy and self-righteous. Like normal, only more so.
"What, like Seerow did?" Jake asked.
Ax stiffened. Cassie glared reproachfully at Jake.
Long story behind that one. Suffice it to say, Seerow was an Andalite who made a mistake. A big one. And Jake probably shouldn't have mentioned him at all.
Andalites, as a species, learn from their mistakes, Ax said, in icy, measured tones. It's exactly because of Seerow that I suggest non- interference.
From the look on Jake's face, and the way Tobias was moving on his branch, I guessed Tobias was chewing him out in private. Tobias is Ax's best friend. Generally, it doesn't really show, since we're all good friends. Saving each other's lives about a million times will tend to cement a friendship. But Jake had crossed the line, and Tobias was letting him know it.
Jake massaged his temples slowly. "Okay, look. I'm sorry, Ax. I shouldn't have said that."
I understand, Prince Jake. Ax still sounded hurt, but like he was recovering.
"Good. Now, let's think about this," Jake continued. "Do we really want the responsibility of caring for a Helmacron outcast?"
There was a conflicting chorus of "Yes" and "No" from the others. I kept quiet.
"Okay," he sighed, "let's try this individually. Cassie?"
"It would be wrong to just leave her here."
"Gee, Cassie, I never would have guessed you'd feel that way." Marco. Of course.
"Marco, what's your vote?"
"No way. I'm with Ax on this one. Ain't no way we can start a little lost alien shelter. We're slightly busy people."
"Rachel?"
"Abstain," I said, shrugging. "I have no clue." I mean, come on. I'm supposed to help decide whether it's right or wrong to adopt an excommunicated Helmacron? Forget it. I was still trying to deal with the war and my sister.
"What? Mighty Xena doesn't know how to deal with marooned Helmacrons?"
I shook my head. "No, Marco. I'm too busy trying to figure out what to do with you."
"Aw, I'm touched you care."
Jake ignored our banter, as usual. "Tobias?"
All I can say is, if you do decide to help her, she'd better not start frightening the mice in my field.
"Is that a yes or a no?"
It's an . . . abstain, he said. I smiled.
"We all know Ax's position," Jake said. "And I'd have to vote that we should help her. I mean, it's only until her sentence ends. Severe Helmacron sentences probably last fifteen minutes. So, two votes yes, two votes no, two abstains. Tobias, Rachel? Either of you want to vote for real?"
I shook my head. Tobias ruffled his feathers. The message was the same.
"No. Okay. That leaves us with a dead tie."
We cannot go involving us in the affairs of aliens! Ax exploded.
"Said the alien who we rescued from the sea, after a space battle for Earth by two alien species," Marco muttered.
I demand that you interfere in my affairs!
We all turned to regard the Helmacron. She was standing on her four tiny legs. I couldn't be sure, at that size, but I have a feeling she was glaring up at us. This planet of yours is hostile! You cannot merely leave me here to perish! The entire Helmacron Empire would come crashing down on your heads for such a travesty!
But you were just kicked out of the Helmacron Empire, Tobias observed.
Oh. Yes. She fell silent at that, considering it. Nonetheless! This is your planet, and the well-being of the creatures on it is your concern! You are to interfere with me immediately!
"Well," I said, squinting at the Helmacron. "I guess that breaks the tie, doesn't it?"
I knew Ax would be grumbling for weeks over counting the Helmacron's 'request' as an official vote.