Chapter 5

Ax

After Tobias and Rachel left the bridge, there was an uncomfortable situation left that fortunately, as the captain, I did not have to deal with. I busied myself with studying the ship's capabilities. This did not take long – the ship I now commanded was formidable and it's design somewhat interesting, but nowhere near the technological miracle I had commanded in the Intrepid.

The awkward conversation between Cassie and Prince Jake actually turned into a more flowing dialogue in which Prince Jake seemed to ease a little, even relax. Cassie still seemed on her guard, but I could see Jake's charm was working it's way through her barriers. I'd always associated more with Jake and Tobias because, to me at least, they seemed more…I don't know, Andalite, I guess. Jake was cordial enough, but also very cool and calculating, even in non-combat situations. These qualities are requisites for any Andalite who wishes to have a command of his own one day. Tobias held a place in my hearts because of the situation we had lived through. We were both castaways, and in each other we found salvation.

I moved on from the data files that covered our ship to more interesting things that were a part of our mainframe. There were extensive files on the physical and psychological make-up of the Taruffs, the organisms we were to aid. Also, there was a lot of history and current major actions on the planet that interested me greatly.

Not as broad were the files on the Trunsk, but what was said of them was enough. After seeing the physical capabilities of the reptilian race, the only thing that kept me from truly losing hope was the mental work-up the Ellimist had directly or indirectly provided.

I noted the time and realized that Tobias and Rachel had been gone for over two and a half Earth hours. I realized that, as humans that had missed each other, they would probably like to spend a long time in each other's exclusive company. I weighed this against the fact that I was ready to give my briefing. The fact that they were friends, not subordinates, almost convinced me to ask Prince Jake his opinion on the issue, but decided against it. Even if they were friends, I was the Captain – it was my duty to show everyone that my years in the Andalite military had been put to good use. I would be respectful of everyone, but command was a position that had few friends.

(Cassie?) I asked in thought-speak. (Could you please tell Rachel, Marco, and Tobias to meet Prince Jake and I in the aft of the ship in five minutes?) She hesitated, glancing at Jake, who nodded, and she left the bridge. Prince Jake gave me a look that I could not easily fathom. It had been a while since I'd been around humans, after all.

When we were alone, I decided the hell with proper procedure, at least for the moment. (Prince Jake, I am conflicted,) I told him truthfully. I noticed my left rear hoof was tapping the floor in a nervous gesture and ceased it immediately, embarrassed by the tell-tale fidgeting. (I know how I should behave as commander of this ship, but all of you are dear friends. I think that giving orders would be seen as boorish and rude, although I know this is something that is expected of me.)

He smiled. "Take it easy, Ax. You go ahead and act exactly as you would around the crew of the Intrepid. Aside from Marco taking some shots at you, I don't think anyone is going to have a problem with it. If they do, I'll remind them how serious this mission is. Everyone needs to realize that we are expected to be soldiers. We're not kids anymore, and we'd do well to make use of your training. So, go ahead and do your thing, and if you need any help, send me a private message and we'll straighten anything out that we need to, okay?"

I relaxed and marveled at Prince Jake's ability for command. He was a natural leader, better than most of the Andalites in positions of power that I knew. (Thank you, Prince Jake.)

He laughed. "I'll call you Ax if you'll call me Jake, Captain Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill."

I paused, then joined his laughter. (I suppose it would be okay. We are both Princes.) We left the bridge after I made sure we were safely locked in Z-space and Jake and I entered the aft hold. Everyone was standing except for Marco, who was sitting cross-legged on the deck rubbing his main eyes – 'his only eyes,' I corrected myself slyly. It had been a while since I'd had human companions. I had worried about Rachel and Tobias paying more attention to each other than to me during the briefing, but Tobias was again in his hawk form and Rachel was very attentive. Toby, Cassie and Jake stood, relaxed but not distracted. I smiled to myself. 'True warriors they are.'

(First of all, I'd like to say how happy I am to be with you all again,) I began, and truly meant it.

"Couldn't you have expressed your joy in the morning?" Marco snapped.

I began to retort, but Rachel did it for me. "Marco, we're in space, you moron. When do you think morning is?"

"I dunno, but I do know it shouldn't be for a few more hours," he grumbled. Jake cleared his throat and Marco appeared to be done complaining, at least for the moment. I continued.

(I've been studying the ship's computer, and…well, wait. What are we going to call our vessel?) I stopped myself. We couldn't go on saying the ship.

Everyone thought…and thought…and thought some more. Without opening his eyes, Marco said in a sleepy voice, "The Rachel."

Jake grinned. "That's already taken, Marco," he said patiently.

Rachel studied everyone for a moment and broke out in a wild laugh as she put two and two together. "You guys named a ship after me? How cool is that?" Everyone just kind of grinned but remained silent. I did not have any suggestions for a name, and already I felt in violation of some unwritten law. I'd never been on a ship with no name before. It was a little unsettling.

Cassie broke the silence. "How about the Apollo? You know, Zeus' messenger? We are delivering an important message."

"Messenger of Zeus sounds pretty damn cool," Rachel added.

(Who is this Zeus?) I asked.

Jake let a half-smile tug the right side of his mouth. "Zeus is an ancient god from a long-gone religion," he informed me. "Actually, Zeus was the king of gods, god of thunder. His wrath was legendary."

Cassie looked deep in thought for a moment, then nodded. "Messenger of Zeus works for me," she said.

Marco seemed to be asleep again, and I figured that Tobias would agree with whatever Rachel wanted. (Okay. That is what we'll call her,) I said. (Rachel has been acquainted with the ships weapons systems, and will be handling them in the case that we need them. There are weapons simulations available through the ships computers,) I added for Rachel's benefit. Marco, who I thought had gone back to sleep, suddenly jerked to his feet.

"What the hell?" he cried. "Rachel gets to shoot the lasers? More importantly, she gets to play video games with the Messenger's computer? No fair," he pouted, but it was exaggerated. I think. It's not always easy to tell with Marco.

I smiled. (I was about to tell you something interesting that I found about the weapons. It has two forward mounted shredders, but it also has two more dorsal shredders and a missle launching system. The fascinating thing about the weapons on top of us is while attatched to the ship, they'll be controlled by Rachel. They are actually a part of a starfighter that is integrated with our superstructure.)

It took Marco a moment to realize what I was saying, then he narrowed his eyes at me and said, "What kind of starfighter?"

(Very small,) I said, calling up the data I'd read earlier. (Agile, quite powerful for something of it's size. It needs only one pilot. A human pilot.)

Marco grinned. "Rachel has to work the Messenger's lasers. Jake is a prince, and we'd never endanger our prince," he said sardonically. "I guess that leaves me and you, Cassie, to see who the better pilot is."

Cassie started to say something, but I interrupted. (Actually, I was going to ask if you would handle communications and navigation, Cassie.)

Cassie looked relieved. "Yeah, I'd like that. I don't think I'm cracked up to be a fighter pilot."

Tobias sent me a private message. (Just let Marco fly the thing. We probably won't even use it anyway.)

(Marco, whenever you get the chance, please use the computer for combat simulations. We'll need you at your best if we run into trouble,) I told him as seriously as I could manage. Tobias was right, that fighter would more than likely stay docked for the entirety of the trip. Marco threw me a salute which he clearly thought of as military, and I did my best not to laugh. Rachel, on the other hand, burst out in giggles and called Marco a name. I ignored their antics as usual and continued the briefing.

(The Taruffs are the people we'll be making contact with at our journey's end. The are bipedal, like humans.) I accessed the data in the small, handheld unit I'd brought with me and a hologram of a Taruff appeared from the palm of my hand.

(They look like a kangaroo from the waist down,) Tobias commented. (The legs look very powerful. The upper body reminds me of you, Ax, but with longer arms. The head, too, but without stalk eyes.)

As the hologram rotated, Marco chuckled. "Look, mon. They have dreadlocks, mon," he said in a strange accent I'd never heard.

"They look pretty harmless," Rachel shrugged. "Not like we couldn't take them."

(They are 3.2 meters tall on average and weigh nearly 300 pounds. The legs are very powerful, and they can make leaps of over 5 meters.)

Rachel shrugged again, unimpressed, and Jake spoke up. "We're not going to fight them. We want them to trust us." He looked to me. "Is there any way you found that could make them? Trust us, I mean."

I scuffed the deck with my front hoof. (I am not a diplomat. I do not know how to manipulate the psychology of unknown species.)

"What about some information that would give us an edge?" Marco asked. "Something that we could go in and say, 'Oh hey, we do that too. We should be best friends.'"

I shrugged, a very human gesture I'd acquired from my friends. (As far as I can tell, the entire culture is obsessed with blade fighting. They do it with swords, daggers, manufactured wrist blades…just about anything sharp. In some places, they've turned it into an art form, like dancing. Skilled Kertian, their word for blade fighter, can go through choreographed fights lasting hours. In other places, duels and challenges are a part of daily life and often fought to the death. I can see how this could be an advantage to myself and Toby Hamee, but I don't know how to use it for a help to the rest of you.)

Tobias interjected. (Humans have been fighting with blades for centuries. I'm sure with you and Toby as instructors, everyone could at least gain some basic skill with a sword.)

I considered. (Maybe. For now, though, we're at least a month away from Xylen. Everyone should use the computers to get acquainted with your stations should the need arise,) I said in a more professional tone. (If you have any questions, I will be on the bridge. For now, please at least get a passive knowledge of your duties.)

Marco snickered. "Ax, you trip me out. In a couple hours, I'll be the best star pilot in the galaxy. I used to play X-wing vs. TIE Fighter religiously." Everyone went to get busy, and I shook the confusion out of my head. (I don't even know why I listen to Marco,) I chided myself. (He never makes any sense anyway.) I went to the bridge and began booting up the simulations for my friends.