Author's Note: I know about the yamphut thing in book 29, but I was thinking maybe Ax has a different disease. His fever is higher than it was in book 29, he's unconscious almost all time, and he's delirious whenever he's awake. I don't think he'll die, but I also wasn't planning on him getting sick. His temperature is measured in Fahrenheit, because I don't know the equivalent for Andalite temperature.
Disclaimer: And now, the moment of truth. The instant where cherished hopes and illusions are shattered. The place in the story where I burst into tears and confess that (sob) I DON'T OWN THE ANIMORPHS!
Okay, I'm done procrastinating. Read on, and review when finished. I NEED IDEAS!
Chapter Eleven: Loren's POV[What's the matter NOW, Esp?] Elfangor snarled. He was kneeling next to his brother. Aximili, or 'Ax', as the Animorphs called him, was still unconscious.
"How high is Aximili's fever?" Typically, Esp gave an answer that didn't answer anything.
Cassie stuck a thermometer in Aximili's ear. "Ninety-eight point six." Elfangor jumped. "What? That's good, isn't it?"
"Not when your temperature is supposed to be ninety-one point three. He's seven point three degrees above normal. How can you DO that kind of math so quickly? Maybe I'm just smarter than you. Or maybe you're just leeching off of my unknown brilliance! If it's unknown, how do you know it exists? That's why it IS so brilliant."
[Do you two make it a point to jabber complete and utter nonsense in times of crisis?] Elfangor was beginning to sound panicked. Tom/Esp jumped.
"We said all that out loud? Sorry about that. Elfangor, um, do you know anything about yamphut?"
"What's that?" I asked, before Elfangor even answered.
[It's a highly contagious condition caused by disease organisms collected in the Tria gland. I had it when I was younger. It's a one-time malady, like chicken pox for humans, but more often than not, it proves fatal. First, the Andalite develops a fever, then their temperature begins to drop erratically. Once their temperature is back to normal, the Tria gland has to be removed. If it isn't, it will burst. Since its purpose is to keep germs away from the body, this sets those germs loose,] Elfangor explained. He paled under his fur. [You don't mean...]
"Well, if I'm right, that's what's happened to Aximili." Tom/Esp heaved a sigh. "For once, I hope I'm wrong."
"Where is this gland thingy?" Jake wondered. Elfangor thought for a moment, then moaned.
[The Tria gland is directly attached to the brain.]
"Ah, so no problems, then," said Marco sarcastically. "All we need is a trustworthy, qualified brain surgeon who's willing to operate on an alien, for free, at a moments notice."
Right then, Aximili stirred, causing the whole barn to fall silent. He opened his eyes, and looked blearily at Elfangor. [Father?] he whispered. Elfangor visibly cringed.
[No, Aximili,] he said gently. [It's me—Elfangor.]
[Don't lie, Father,] Ax gasped out. I had no idea it was possible to sound out of breath in thought-speak. [Elfangor's dead. I told you.]
"He's delirious, Elfangor," Tom/Esp said softly. "It's probably best just to humor him."
Aximili suddenly cried out in pain. Elfangor's concern for his brother immediately overwhelmed his resent at being mistaken for his father. [What happened? What's wrong?]
[It hurts,] Aximili moaned.
[What hurts?]
[Everything...] Aximili began to whimper. [Where are you?] He began to gasp for air. [I'm scared... don't leave me...]
[Don't be scared, Aximili. I'm here, right beside you. I won't leave you. Try to sleep. I'll be here when you wake up, I promise.] Elfangor seemed shocked that he'd suggested Aximili going to sleep after waiting so anxiously for him to wake up, but didn't attempt to change his mind.
There was no response. Aximili had passed out again.
"We should probably check his temperature again," Cassie said. She stuck the thermometer in Aximili's ear again.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" asked Tom/Esp (most likely Esp). "Putting the thermometer in his ear, I mean. If he wakes up and gets delirious again, he might think that he's being infested or something."
"We have to take his temperature," said Cassie practically. The thermometer beeped, Cassie removed it, and she yelped in alarm. "His fever's gone UP!"
[WHAT?] I am not exaggerating in saying that Elfangor sounded like he'd been breathing helium.
"He's over a hundred degrees!"
[But...] Elfangor's voice was even higher now. [But with yamphut, the fever never RISES, it's supposed to drop!]
"Well, Aximili isn't SUPPOSED to be sick, Loren's not SUPPOSED to know about your existence, you weren't SUPPOSED to give the Animorphs the morphing ability, and I'm fairly sure I'm not SUPPOSED to be in the presence of an Andalite for more than two seconds without attempting murder." I'll give you three guesses who said that, and the first two don't count.
[If this keeps up, never mind the gland we've got to remove, he could die from overheating!] cried Tobias.
AXIMILI WILL NOT DIE.
[What are you doing here, Ellimist?] Elfangor snarled. [Wait, don't tell me. Let me guess. You're 'not interfering' again. Haven't you already ruined my life enough? GO! AWAY!]
I NEVER INTERFERE. I AM HERE TO HELP. AXIMILI DOES NOT HAVE YAMPHUT. HE IS A VICTIM OF CRAYAK.
[Who or what is Crayak?] Elfangor demanded.
MY OPPONENT. HE WISHES AXIMILI TO DIE BECAUSE HE KNOWS IT WILL UPSET AND WEAKEN ALL OF YOU. HE BELIEVES THAT I AM UNABLE TO BE OF ASSISTANCE.
"So, besides Crayak being your enemy and all, what's your motive for helping us? What do you want in return?"
ARE YOU ALWAYS THIS SUSPICIOUS OF PEOPLE, ESPLIN?
"No, only with loud voices that come out of nowhere. And don't call me Esplin; call me Esp."
WHAT DOES IT MATTER?
"Well, Esplin can also be used to address my twin, so it's a bit confusing."
YOUR TWIN IS NOT HERE.
"Well, I'm also not used to being addressed as Esplin. And I prefer Esp." I could have sworn that I heard the Ellimist give a sigh of exasperation.
WELL, ESP, I HAVE TWO REASONS. ONE, AS YOU GUESSED, IS TO THWART CRAYAK. I ALSO FEEL THAT I OWE ELFANGOR SOMETHING FOR, AS HE PUT IT, 'RUINING HIS LIFE'.
"Why is it that no one here seems disturbed by voices coming out of nowhere?" I wondered. I had encountered Ellimist shortly after Elfangor disappeared, but I hadn't known the Animorphs had.
"I'm guessing it's because we're all to busy being worried about Ax to care," Jake muttered. I was surprised, actually—I hadn't realized I'd spoken out loud. "How exactly can YOU help him?" he asked Ellimist. "Isn't that interference on your part?"
IT WOULD BE—HAD CRAYAK NOT INTERFERED FIRST BY MAKING AXIMILI ILL. WE HAVE MADE A DEAL. I CAN HELP YOU SAVE AXIMILI.
"But?" asked Esp suspiciously.
BUT WHAT? Ellimist asked him.
"What's the catch?"
I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN.
"You want something in return, I know it. What is it?"
NOTHING. I ALREADY TOLD YOU THAT.
"So, what was Crayak's motive for agreeing to this deal?" Esp demanded.
HE IS ALLOWED TO WARN CERTAIN YEERKS ON THE TAXXON HOME WORLD THAT A SMALL GROUP OF TAXXON REBELS ARE PLANNING TO ATTACK.
[Has Arbron been informed of this?] Elfangor asked suddenly.
NO. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT HE IS COMING HERE NOW, SO I WILL BE ABLE TO TELL HIM IN A MINUTE.
Arbron chose that instant to show up. [What's the matter with Aximili?] he asked, apparently able to recognize the scent of illness. Or, more likely, he just realized Aximili was lying down.
[We're not sure. Ellimist has been rather vague about exactly what Crayak did to him.]
Taxxon faces can't really show emotions, so it was only by Arbron's voice as he next spoke that I could tell he was somewhat fearful for Elfangor's sanity.
[What does Ellimist have to do with anything right now and who or what is Crayak?]
I WILL EXPLAIN THINGS MORE CLEARLY. Arbron jerked in surprise at the sound of Ellimist's voice, then pacified.
I recognized what was happening. Ellimist was sending everything we'd said straight into Arbron's memory, as if Arbron had been present the whole time. He had explain things to me in the same fashion after Elfangor's 'disappearance'. My memories of Elfangor hadn't been erased—I was instructed to pretend they'd never happened. I had needed to move my home quite frequently after that, to prevent the Yeerks from finding me. The hardest part was giving up Tobias. I had to leave him with my sister, for his safety as much as mine.
I had been watching my son from a distance for a long time. That was how I'd met Tom and Esp. I'd seen the Animorphs near the Sharing's community center when we literally bumped into each other. I had passed myself off as a potential member for a while, until he introduced me to his friend, 'Alan Fangor'.
Elfangor and I had recognized each other instantly. Still, I was in shock for a week. My husband was alive, well and with me, I had met a trustworthy Yeerk, (coincidentally enough, the twin of Elfangor's personal enemy), Arbron was back, and, best of all, Ellimist didn't show up and ruin everything. At least, not before now.
[That's not fair,] Arbron protested. [Crayak gets to take fifteen lives, and you only get to save one? Forgive me, but I don't see any justice in that. It's just not fair.]
PERHAPS NOT, BUT THOSE WERE THE TERMS OF OUR AGREEMENT. THERE IS A STRONG CHANCE THAT THE TAXXON REBELS WILL REALIZE THAT THE YEERKS WERE WARNED. CRAYAK'S INTENT IS TO KEEP THAT YEERK BASE UNDAMAGED.
[That still doesn't make it fair.] Arbron was extremely stubborn about things like this. Still, I had a feeling that Elfangor would have made the same argument, if there hadn't been personal emotions getting in the way. Elfangor, being Aximili's big brother, naturally felt willing to do make any sacrifice necessary to help Aximili. Arbron, being unrelated to Aximili and trapped in Taxxon morph, was more inclined to sympathize with the Taxxon rebels.
ARBRON, I REALIZE YOU DO NOT BELIEVE THIS TO BE FAIR, BUT IT MUST BE DONE IN ORDER TO SAVE AXIMILI'S LIFE.
[Arbron, please, just go along with this,] begged Elfangor. He cast a desperate look at Aximili. His little brother was beginning to tremble violently.
"I think he's cold," said Tom/Esp softly. "I'm not sure about Andalites, but when a human has a fever, they usually feel really cold." He pulled a horse blanket from a pile near the door and shook the loose hay and dust off it. He then spread it very gently over Aximili's shuddering form. A few seconds later, the shivering subsided. Aximili's breathing, however, was raspier than ever.
[Poor Ax,] Tobias whispered from the rafters. He was still keeping lookout for Cassie's parents. [Hang in there, buddy. You're going to be okay. You're going to be okay!] He began to chant this, though whether to convince Aximili or himself was uncertain. After about five straight minutes of this, he fell silent, then whispered: [Please, Ax-man. Please—you've got to be okay.]
I CANNOT CURE HIM WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF ALL PRESENT.
"Does that mean you need Ax to wake up to give his permission to be cured?" asked Rachel. I jumped—she had been almost totally silent since I'd gotten there.
IT MEANS THAT ARBRON MUST GIVE CONSENT. THE REST OF YOU, AXIMILI INCLUDED, HAVE GIVEN IT SUBCONSCIOUSLY.
[So, I'm guessing that also means Crayak can't warn those Yeerks about the attack?] said Arbron hopefully.
IN THIS CASE, NO. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION YOU WOULD ALL AGREE, AND THUS NEGLECTED TO MAKE THAT A FACTOR IN OUR DEAL.
[It's an unspoken factor,] Arbron insisted. [You cure Aximili, and he gets to warn the Yeerks. You DON'T cure Aximili, and he CAN'T warn the Yeerks. It's very simple, really.]
[Arbron, please,] Elfangor begged. [The Taxxons will probably find out that the Yeerks were warned. They won't attack, they won't die—Crayak's technically doing them a favor. Aximili's dying.]
"Either way, Crayak has a victory," Tom/Esp pointed out. "If Arbron says okay, the Yeerk base is safe, for a while, at least. If Arbron says no, Aximili dies."
[How do we know he's going to die?] Arbron demanded. [He might recover on his own.]
Esp laughed out loud at this. "Right, Arbron. Just like Esi MIGHT come to his senses, voluntarily end the war, give up his rank as a Visser, leave his host body, and apologize to Elfangor for trying to kill him."
Elfangor cried out suddenly. "What's wrong?" I asked. He looked paler than I would have thought possible as an Andalite. Even his fur seemed to be losing its color.
[Aximili's getting worse,] he whispered. [One of his hearts stopped beating.]
Author's Note: Okay, I'm going to go find a cliff to walk off of before Waffles does it for me. But before I do...
I am really sorry this is a cliff-hanger, (DIE, EVIL WRITER'S BLOCK!) but I believe it is also my longest chapter to date.
I am not sure how many hearts Andalites have. Some books say they have two, other books say they have three. I just know that they have more than one.
Since I've basically BUTCHERED the order of the books by now, let's just assume books 26 and 27 have already happened. They're the ones that explain Crayak the best.
Reviews that give me ideas would be IMMENSELY appreciated.
Please tell me whose POV you think the next chapter should be from. It can't be Ellimist, lest I spoil the Ellimist Chronicles AND my self-esteem, and I've just finished doing the major characters. You have until August 1st.
Thanks a billion and good-bye.