Chapter seventeen (oh my!); Surprises galore!
Present…
Ithiell
My eyes snapped open, looking up at the blue sky above me. I suddenly realised I couldn't move, and then remembered what had happened.
We'd fired at the exact same time, the Terinan ship and our own. The explosion short-circuited both of our systems, and we went spiralling down to the earth. I'd ordered Rtaia to shift to human, and I'd shifted as well, just before we'd hit. I'd just now regained consciousness. But had I shifted in time?
I sniffed the air, and only picked up the smell of grass and something burning. Nothing specific. I closed my eyes and tried to feel the top of my head. Yes, there was hair there. Which meant I would be all right. The broken neck I'd suffered, I'd only suffered in human form. Which meant I'd be all right.
I shifted back, finding I could stand up just fine, and looked around at my surroundings. Not far away from me, I saw the burning wreckage of the fighter.
"Rtaia! Are you all right!" I yelled. No answer. I ran towards the fighter, realising the front half was completely gone, then dove in that way, looking desperately for her.
"Rtaia! Where are you!" I cried, looking desperately around. I coughed on the thick smoke that was billowing up, then pushed my way further into the ship. I nearly had a heart attack when she stepped through the smoke, still human, carrying the medical kit in both hands. She was badly burnt and bloody.
"Take… take this… I need to… to get the weapons…" she coughed out, handing it to me. I was about to protest, but knew she'd be all right. I took the kit out, then quickly went back in to find her.
I looked around…
And saw she'd collapsed near a wall, two Jara guns held tight to her chest.
"Hang on Rtaia! I'll get you out of here!" I cried, picking her up underneath, then getting out of the fighter as fast as I possibly could.
I set her down on the ground, taking the guns and putting them next to the kit.
"Come on Rtaia, shift back. I know you can hear me" I said, gently shaking her. There was no response.
"Rtaia, shift back! That's an order!" I knew my eyes were filling with tears, and my head felt like it was about to explode but I didn't care. I just wanted her to open her eyes, and shift back…
"Ithiell! Ithiell! Oh god! Ithiell!" I heard the voices calling to me, and someone wrap their arms around my shoulders from behind, but I hardly noticed. If Rtaia would just move on her own…
"Is she… is she dead?" Someone asked. A male?
Hands gingerly touched her neck. Cassie's hands.
"No, she's still got a pulse"
I came back to reality then, blinking back the tears and turning to look up at the faces now crowded around. Nine other faces. One very upset face.
(What… what happened?) Ax asked. His legs were shaking.
"Crashed… she went back for the medical kit and guns… didn't know she'd be…"
"Come on Rtaia, shift back. You can do it" Jade was beside her now, talking to her gently. The arms that were holding me now came and wrapped themselves around my middle. It was Amanda.
"Are you ok? I can't tell from all the black stuff on you"
"Fine" I mumbled, turning back to Rtaia. I'd done this…
Ax was suddenly on his knees, putting a gentle hand on her forehead. Jade moved away so he could get there. Then, something happened I don't think I'd ever be able to explain.
Rtaia suddenly cried out, bolting into a sitting position.
"Whoa!" All of us screamed, jumping back. Even Ax.
"What the…"
"Change back Rtaia, that's an order" I blurted out, interrupting Rachel, and Rtaia turned to look at me. Then, she nodded and smiled.
"As you wish, brother" She shifted back, and I didn't think and Andalite could look more happy than he did at that moment. He even managed to grin with his stalk eyes!
"Thank god she's ok" Jake sighed, looking down at me. I looked up at him and nodded.
"Agreed"
I wiped the tears from my eyes, going over to the medical kit. I moved the guns from the box, then lifted the slightly heavy lid. What I found in there made me smile.
"Well I'll be… guys, I think we might just be able to win this thing"
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Past…
Jade
More months had passed, and we'd managed to drive the Terinans away a third time. Ithiell and Rtaia's plan had worked perfectly, and we'd finished them off like the last batch. Since then, we'd encountered the Terinans two more times, and managed to hold them off before the great Lowri and his gang got there. We'd been given very high honours in their culture, and was allowed to drink some sort of ceremonial drink or whatever, before they took off again. Rtaia was offered a position on a new ship her brother would be getting, but refused it.
During the big fights to the death, Ithiell and Rtaia trained us twice a week, which took away some of my free time. My skating coach trained me three times a week, so that didn't leave me much time to go out and do what I wanted to do. By then I was twelve (and some months), and had kind of fallen into a routine.
I got home late one night, after my skating and… warrior training… were magically on the same day, already prepared for the lecture I'd get at home.
Instead… I found my mother on the couch, waiting for me. My dad and siblings were no-where to be found.
Uh-oh, this is gonna be bad, I thought as I walked in and sat on the lounge opposite to her. And waited.
Nothing was said. She only smiled at me. I cringed.
"Jade, sweetie? Come over here" She patted the seat beside her. I went and sat down, veeerry slowly. This sounded bad. Really, really bad.
"Mum? I'm sorry, but Mandy wanted to go shopping and she dragged me along, and you know how she is? I'm sorry mum, I'll-"
"Sweetheart, calm down. It's not about that. I forgive you" She took my hands in hers, and I realised something was different. Then it hit me. Of course! She wanted…
She wanted to talk to me about the birds and the bees! Gah! This was going to be…
"Jade, sweetie. I'm pregnant"
I just stared "WHAT!"
My mother just laughed.
"In about eight moths you're going to have a new baby brother or sister. Isn't that exiting?"
"Exiting? It's mind-blowing" I managed to get out, finally letting out a small, very relieved but still amazingly shocked laugh at what I'd just learnt. My mum laughed again, and I realised it was a very relieved laugh. She'd probably been terrified to tell me!
"Does dad know?" I asked, squeezing her hands in assurance. I'm sure a smile was plastered on my face.
"Yes"
"And… Tina and Ryan?"
"Your father took them out to get ice-cream. He was going to tell them then"
I laughed "Poor dad"
She smiled at me, almost grateful. She knew… I was going to do all I could to help her, if she needed my help.
I suddenly had a grin from ear to ear. I couldn't stop smiling!
For once in around two years, this was the best news I'd ever heard.
Damn it felt good to truly smile again.
Yeah, I know. Short n that, but it's all a part of 'getting there'. This is going to be good. You can be sure of that!
