Chapter 13

Jake

I felt the morph emerge quickly, a powerful explosion of senses and strength. As the morph progressed and tiger started completely replacing my human self, I reflected that it had been far too long since I'd done this particular morph. I saw the fear in Chapman's face, but as I lost my dull human senses, I could also smell the fear and anxiety. I could almost taste it. Tigers are maneaters - don't let anyone ever tell you any different. Sure, they can be contained and controlled. Hell, any source of power could be contained. Incredible power was contained in the energy cells aboard the Messenger. Even the Ellimist's power was put into check by Crayak's. But that potential – the electric, amazing potential – was bursting through every cell in the tiger's body.

As I started stalking around Chapman, I could smell not only his fear, but also the weird, alien smell of the Yeerk in his head. An uprising of human emotion threatened to take over the tiger's will – compassion. I brushed it away. Compassion? Was the Yeerk in Tom's head compassionate when he ordered his companions to kill Rachel? Was Visser Three compassionate when he ordered my entire town to be demolished? Would Chapman, if the present situation were reversed, show me an inkling of compassion?

No. What I had to do had nothing to do with human emotion. It had nothing to do with humans, period. If I didn't do whatever it took to succeed, billions upon billions would suffer and die. I had no right to give my emotions any weight at all. No right whatsoever.

It helped that Chapman's face was that of a sworn enemy. He was actually one of the first enemies I'd ever had. Strange – I'd never thought of it that way before. I was thirteen when it all started. Thirteen-year-olds don't have enemies. They can't even understand what the word truly means. Yet, because of the Yeerks directly and Crayak indirectly, I had enemies.

I uncoiled my powerful hind legs and launched myself at Chapman. I don't know if the human part of him truly was in control or if the Yeerk was merely spinning a lie to confuse me. Whoever it was with control of that body, I've got to give them credit for being brave. He punched me in the side of my humongous head. I felt the fragile human finger bones snap under the force of my thick skull, but the blow didn't even faze me. It did deflect my mouth away from his shoulder, which I was aiming for. Unfortunately for Chapman, his blow deflected my deadly teeth away from his shoulder into his neck. One short, sudden shake of my head later, it was over.

He lay on the floor, not able to move, and opened his mouth to speak. I didn't think he'd be able to get any words out through the torn mess that used to be his throat, but he managed two words. "Thank…you."

I saw why those words had come out. The Yeerk, Efflit whatever, was halfway out of Chapman's left ear. It managed to squeeze out about the same time as Chapman let go his last breath. It began squirming across the floor towards a shadowed corner – I guess it realized that we weren't going to show it even as much compassion as I'd shown Chapman.

I looked at Amni'bel through tiger eyes and was pretty impressed. I thought I'd had her pegged pretty easily as no threat to us, but looking at her with the analytical gaze of a predator, I realized that I'd sorely underestimated her. Her body did not seem quite so frail – as a matter of fact, it was easy to see the way the sinews flexed against the scaly skin like steel cable. I could tell from the ease of the way she stood that she was quite confident in her abilities, and the piercing quality of her eyes took on a whole new level. The tiger in me wasn't afraid – it was never truly afraid – but it decided it would definitely look for a meal or a fight elsewhere. As I studied her, she gave an almost dismissive flick of her hand. A blur of movement caught my eye, over near the Yeerk –

-and I turned my head just as the nearest guard deftly snatched the Yeerk, tossed it into the air, and neatly sliced it in half with a well-aimed wrist blade. Nobody spoke. I demorphed. Still no one spoke. I looked at Amni'bel with a mix of admiration and curiousity. I decided that no matter how long it took, I would let the princess speak before I offered any words. It wasn't long.

"You speak the truth," she said finally. "On Xylen, parasites exist. Vile creatures who are not to be pitied but slaughtered. We will not make exceptions for off-world parasites, no matter how smart or advanced they are. They are parasites," she repeated, making a curse out of the word. "Nature itself made them dishonest, evil, and full of hate. These are parasitic qualities, and they will not be tolerated here. Myself and my tribe are at your service, Prince Jake. Prince Jake, the shape-shifter."

She shifted her gaze to Ax. "There is another in the palace, one like you. Smaller. Female, I think. I will have her detained." One of the guards bounded out, not waiting for orders. He returned a moment later.

"The other Andalite is gone," he said, his head bowed. Amni'bel looked angry, like she might strike the guard, when Ax spoke up.

(This Andalite, whoever she is, most likely has the morphing ability that you've just seen in Prince Jake. You will not find her until she wants to be found,) he told her a little arrogantly, which was usual when he spoke of his own people, even enemies. The princess visibly calmed.

"If you'd like, Jake, I'll brief the princess on our current threat – the Trunsk. I have studied the data files on them, and I can give Princess Amni'bel a good idea of what we'll be up against. I suggest you and Aximili meet with the others aboard the Messenger to inform them of recent developments," Toby offered. She sounded a little strange, and I remembered the whole methane thing that Ax had mentioned. 'Shouldn't she be over that by now?' I thought to myself, then shrugged it off. We needed everybody at their best, and Toby was giving me a way she could help.

"Thank you, Toby. It's a plan." I bowed to the princess, who was already leading Toby to a side room. No one came to escort us out, and I allowed a slight smile to come to my face. What did it mean that we were being allowed free run of the princess' palace? We were trusted. It was a nice change.

A/N – Short, I know. It just seemed like a good place to end it. Next chapter, which will more than likely be up in the next 12 – 24 hours, is in Jake's POV again. It'll be kind of angsty..that's all I can tell for now! Hope you enjoyed this chapter and the rest to come. Bye, now.