Okay, this first bit's a bit sappy, but I thought it would go well. I dedicate it to you LittleMidget, since you like 'Ax' romances so much... ;)
Rtaia
I broke off from the others, flying to where I knew the two fighters were. I had also gotten the news of Amanda and Cassie, and I too was worried. But I had been asked by Jake, the leader of the band of Animorphs, to get Aximili.
I landed when I was in the clearing, becoming myself as soon as I could. I checked in Anny's ship, where Anny herself was still going over her calculations, still fascinated with the blue and green planet called Earth.
She may or may not have known about us having the Gbar sword in our possession, but she had not asked about it since before my friends had ventured into the cave. Perhaps she knew what we were planning. Perhaps not.
I left her to her instruments, venturing quickly over to the fighter. I typed in the digits, then placed my hand against the panel. The hatch of the ship began to slowly and silently open. When the hatch had hit the ground beside the fighter, I ventured forward.
"Aximili?"
FWAPP!!
WHAP!!
A tail blade raced out to greet me, and my own tail responded instantly, knocking it away from my face and curling around the base of the blade. By then, I was in a defence position; on my hands and feet, my tail arched over my head, My front end was against the ground, and my teeth were bared. All this happened in a matter of seconds.
(A... is that you, Rtaia?)
"Yes, it is I Aximili. What was the purpose of attempting to attack me?" I asked through my bared teeth. My ears had also folded themselves flat against my head. I must have looked extremely menacing at that moment. In seconds, the lights in the fighter illuminated the interior, and I finally saw Aximili. He was breathing heavily, and his eyes were wide open. I myself was breathing quite rapidly.
(I... I am sorry. I was... having a nightmare) he looked embarrassed (I did not mean to fall asleep, but I did)
I let go of his tail, righting myself and standing to my full height, with Aximili still looking at me strangely.
"Do not worry, my friend. I too, have nightmares. They are... unpleasant" I said as I entered the fighter, looking for and spotting the rectangular box that held the sword.
(Is it... time?)
"Yes, it is"
(What shall we do with the sword?) His two main eyes followed me, while his other eyes seemed to be searching for something.
"It must be left in the fighter until we have a chance to destroy it" I said, turning to look at him, a warm feeling in my heart suddenly making me forget why it was that I had come.
It is only Umitte, I told myself, shaking off the feeling. Umitte is a Chanaiben term for what humans call affection. Yes, I felt a slight affection for one who was like me. Not even Ithiell seemed to quell the loneliness in my heart. Ithiell was too human. He had been around them for too long. His Minaj for the girl Amanda was what kept him on earth...
(Rtaia? Are you unwell?)
"No Aximili, it is nothing. Let us leave to help our friends" I told him, leading the way out of the fighter and shaking off thoughts of what humans seemed to refer to as 'love'. I shut and locked the hatch before turning back to Aximili. Again, that emotion filled my Chanaiben heart.
This was insanity! I was having Umitte for someone that was not even Chanaiben! It was unthinkable! It was...
Like Ithiell and his 'love' for Amanda. It was ridiculous!
Aximili looked back at me, seeming to smile with his Andalite eyes. Intelligent eyes...
(Rtaia?)
"Yes?" I spoke this a little uncertainly.
(When you parted Earth on the Aerionna... you did not know this, but...)
"That when I placed my hand on your cheek, it was actually an Andalite kiss? Yes, I know now. Amanda and Jade explained this to me. I... I am sorry if I offended you"
(You did not) he replied, stepping forward and placing his own hand over my 'cheek'. Then he removed it almost immediately, seemingly embarrassed. I smiled.
"Aximili, now it is I that must tell you of what it means in my culture to press a hand on another's face"
(And that is?)
"It is our way of saying 'have hope, dear one'"
(Have hope) he echoed, seeming to like that concept.
"Yes. Now let us go to our friends. I believe they may be in need of us"
Moments later, we both lifted off the soft ground as owls, flying to our meeting point; the meadow.
-------------------------------------------Break-----------------------------------
When we reached our destination, I noticed that the plan had already started to unravel. Ithiell and Amanda were standing with the human boy named Jake, all of them looking at a lion. That lion seemed tense and irritable.
(I killed a bird! A bird!) I heard the lion, David, yell. To me, it sounded as if he was trying to convince himself more than the three standing in front of him.
"You killed a human girl named Jade. She had a family. She had..."
(I didn't... I won't listen to this!) In seconds, he began to change back to his rat form. We all just watched.
(Prince Jake, we have arrived) Aximili said in private thought speak.
(Good. Get into position Ax. Rtaia, you wait in the trees for a moment) Was Jake's worried reply.
(Wait a moment... are you not...) I trailed off, looking down at him.
(Uh, slight glitch in the plan. Jade is actually playing me for now) he said sheepishly as we began our decent, with Aximili landing on the ground just past the tree line. I myself landed silently and swiftly on the branch of a tree, finally noticing the others.
(Ah, I see. And when it comes time for Jade to...)
(We might need you to do that) Jake said as we watched the rat named David begin to grow again. In moments, it was clear to me what he was becoming.
(It's Jade!)
(It's not Jade, it's David morphing Jade. Remember, she said he acquired her back in the tunnels) Jake reminded everyone calmly, not sounding really calm.
(Jade guessed he'd pull this trick) Rachel said, sounding a little worried.
(Yeah. And I hate when I'm right) Jade said, her facial expression staying just as it was.
"All right Jake. Since I killed your friend, you get to kill me. How's that?"
"You filthy, heartless..." Amanda started towards him, but Ithiell put out an arm to stop her.
(Amanda, don't loose it. I need you focused) Jade said to her, and she pulled back a little, nodding only very slightly.
David, who was now Jade, smiled at them. Jade herself, who was now playing the part of Jake, just kept staring.
What seemed like moments, but only a very few seconds passed by, and both sides just kept staring at one another.
"What?!" He screamed, and I saw he was beginning to become impatient "Why do you keep staring at me like that?!"
"You think you can take Jade's place, can't you? You're thinking of doing the same thing as you did with my cousin Saddler. Well I don't think it'll work this time David" Jade said levelly, and almost calmly. I admired her focus.
"What do you know about anything?! What do you know?!"
(Uh-oh. Jake, I think I just saw the problem in this plan...) Marco said quite suddenly.
(What?) Jake demanded.
(How is Rtaia gonna play the part of Jade if she's got her own part in this?)
(What do you mean?)
(Remember what Jade said we'd do if he morphed her? Remember that?)
(Oh...) Jake cursed, then he cursed some more, before he was calm again.
(No, it's my fault! I should've seen this! Oh god no! This isn't gonna work!) Jade cried in our heads, panicked now.
(No, it still can!) Marco cried.
(I can play you!) Tobias added.
(No... I'll do it...)
(But you have to... oh...) I believe Rachel finally understood what he meant.
(Marco...) Cassie trailed off.
(No, let Tobias do it. He's already got what...)
(You... acquired me? When... oh no....)
(Look, you've said so yourself Jake, I'm the biggest B.S artist around. Tobias might be good, but if he slips up, even just once, David will know)
(You acquired me when I was sleeping! No... you acquired me to get me to sleep. That's it, isn't it?) Jade sounded shocked as well as betrayed.
(Yes, and... I'm sorry Jade, but we can talk about this later, ok? Right now we've got to focus)
(He's right Jade. But Marco, if you ever, ever do that again I'll give you more than just a black eye) Jake replied, sounding angry. I could not blame him.
"I know more than you think I know" Jake/Jade said, still playing her part, although I saw the side of her mouth twitch only slightly.
"You don't know me?! You don't even care!!"
(I understand. I'm getting into position now) Marco replied dully.
(Rtaia, you too. Ok?)
(All right) I replied as I floated down from the trees to join Marco on the ground. I watched as he rocked up to his full height, still all owl. I changed my own height, then began to reform my arms and legs, as well as my tail and ears.
"David," Jake/Jade began, "If I didn't care, do you think I'd be standing here in front of you?"
"You're just trying to turn me into an insignificant little nothlit again, aren't you?!"
"No" Jake/Jade said. But I knew, this was partly a lie. I turned to Marco, watching as he smiled and began to morph again. His hair grew out, and his body reshaped to become that of Jade's. But it was not time for him yet. Nor was it mine.
We did what humans call kneeling down in the bushes, watching the scene between the four.
"Then what?! WHAT?!!"
"You killed my friend" Jake/Jade replied lamely.
(Oh man, what now?!) She cried in our heads, now afraid.
(It's all right Jade, stay calm) Cassie assured her.
(Ax? You ready?) Jake asked.
(Yes Prince Jake)
(Good, then go)
Ax erupted from the bushes on the other side of the meadow, startling David and making him jump back in shock as he joined Jade and the others.
(Prince Jake!) He said in open thought-speak (I am glad I have found you! I was afraid...) he trailed off to look at David.
"You do want to kill me, don't you?! You call your little pet Andalite to come rescue you, and... and..."
"No, I didn't. I only came with two people. Ax found his own way here" Jade/Jake said, and inside our heads I heard (Oh man, I'm losing it!)
(Don't freak yet! Don't freak!) Jake cried.
(Come on Jade, you've made it this far) Cassie encouraged her (Don't give up yet)
Yes, do not give up, I added silently.
(All right... I'll try) I saw her take a deep breath, before continuing.
"We're not here to kill you. At least, not before you hear us out"
(Marco, get ready!)
"Hear you out? Hear you out?!" He screeched "That's it! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!" He ran at Jade/Jake, throwing his hands around her throat and knocking her down as he did. Then, he attempted to strangle her.
"Stop that!" Amanda screamed as Ithiell easily pulled David off her, wrapping his tail around David's legs, and his hands around his wrists, holding him there.
"Let go! Let go! LET GO!!" He screamed, trying to wriggle free, but Ithiell was stronger than David in his morph, and nothing he did could break Ithiell's grip.
"I told you David, we're not here to kill you. Not unless you want to be killed" Jade/Jake was recovering from her shock, playing a more believable role.
Then we saw David demorphing. He slipped out of Ithiell's grip, and Ithiell let him go, standing back beside Jade as she got back up.
David became a rat again, then ballooned back to being a lion.
(We've got him!)
(Marco, now!)
Marco, now Jade, walked calmly from the bushes, towards the others. My friends pretended to be shocked, but David was now truly afraid.
(But... but you're dead! She's dead!)
"I... I don't know..." Jade/Jake's eyes were wide as he and the other two stepped back, away from the approaching Marco. Away from the ghost.
He stood right in front of David, who was visibly shaking and cowering, crossing his arms and looking down stonily at the lion.
"You killed me David. You killed me" He snarled.
(You're dead!) he screamed.
"Yes, I am dead David. Because you thought that was the way. You killed me David"
(You can't be! You...)
"Did I deserve it David? Did I?"
(N... I needed to... I didn't want to!)
"Oh, I think you did David. And now I'm stuck in limbo for eternity. I can't cross over David. All because of you" He brought Jade's face close to the lions, almost touching.
(No! You're not real! You can't be! No! No! Noooo!) He ran, but Robert and Cassie, both wolves, stopped him. So he backed himself up into a tree and just stared in horror as the 'ghost' of Jade continued to walk towards him.
(No! Go away! I mean it! Go away!)
"And what are you gonna do David? Kill me?" He smiled cruelly, continuing to walk slowly towards David, taunting him.
(Jake! Oh god Jake, please help me! Please!) He tried to run away again, but Robert stopped him.
"What... what can I do?" Jade/Jake whispered.
(Rtaia, your turn) Jake said, and I stepped out of the bushes, walking slowly and carefully towards David, afraid he might turn on me.
"There is a way, David the human" I said softly, coming to stand beside him. Marco himself had stopped advancing.
(What? What is it?! Tell me?!) He suddenly cowered behind me, shaking. I turned to him, kneeling down next to him and putting a hand on his shoulder.
"Morph yourself. Become a nothlit"
(But... but they'll find me! They'll catch me!)
"No, they will not. We can take you away from this place David. At least until the war is over. Will you accept?"
(They'll catch me) He replied weakly.
"The Yeerks, and the Animorphs, will not harm you. There is a race who will accommodate you, and treat you quite well. Will you accept?" I asked again.
(Do you promise?) He whimpered.
"I, Rtaia of the Ipkla clan, promise you"
He seemed to be in shock for a few moments, but then his form changed, back to the rat, and then he became human again. As he did this, Ithiell and I stood in front of him, so that the others could get into their positions. Jade disappeared, and the real Jake replaced her, and Marco became himself again. Cassie and Rachel joined them, and Robert slunk back into the shadows, watching from a place I could not see.
"Then I agree. If I can be normal...and... safe.... then that's what I want"
"You will be safe. I can assure you, no Yeerk or Animorph has ever set foot on the Runchak home world" I said, taking his hands in mine, looking into his eyes. There was trust there. He trusted me. And this was good.
"We will wait two hours, then when we are sure you are... normal... we will take you to her ship" Ithiell said.
"Her?"
"Yes. A female Runchak who is happy to take you under her wing. She will keep you safe, and give you the friendship that you need" I replied softly, and he smiled and nodded, thanking me. Ithiell sat calmly beside him, continuing to talk to him as Jake motioned for all of us to follow him away from the meadow.
(I'll stay here Jake) Tobias said.
(Me too) Robert added.
We made our way to the fighter, where I retrieved and destroyed the sword with a weapon I had retrieved from Anny's ship, taking careful aim as I did. Jade landed beside us, as a barn owl, and quickly changed back to herself.
I watched as Marco attempted to walk over to her and talk to her. She put her hand up and shook her head.
"No. Just... stay away from me for now, all right? I... need to be alone for a while" She said, nodding at Jake, then looking meaningfully at Amanda, and walked off into the bushes. Alone.
"Oh man" Marco muttered, and Jake put a hand on his arm.
"Just give her some time. She'll cool off" Amanda assured him, looking at Cassie, then at me. I knew what my duty was now.
"Jake, I believe my services will be more useful in guarding and assuring the human named David" I said, turning to him. He looked at me, and nodded.
"Don't be alone though"
"I will not. Aximili?"
(Yes Rtaia?)
"Will you join me in helping to conclude this plan?"
(I... yes Rtaia. I would be honoured to)
It's not over just yet! I promise! Next chappie; Jade recieves a visit from the Ellimist! Suspense! And more answers too! :P
LittleMidgett- Darn! That story was funny too!Neways, keep up the good work!