Chap -17

I was prodded mercilessly down the hall by the guards and into an isolated corridor. I felt a burning pain shoot up the leg of my injured paw each time I took a step. I could limp along at best.

My five person Hork-Bajir guards swaggered along casually until we reached the end. There should have been more guards , but I'm guessing the others had rallied to Visser Three to help him with his 'problem.'

When they stopped walking , I stood there and stared at a dead end , baffled. What was the point of a corridor that lead to a dead end? Then, to my amazement , the metal stretched and opened to form a circular entrance just big enough for me.

Don't ask me why after all I'd been through I could still be amazed. The funny thing is , if it wasn't such a sinister ship , and my enemy's ship to boot , I would probably have had a lot of fun running around , and checking what other secrets and gadgets this ship had.

Seeing their technology made me wonder if the Yeerks really realized what they had. I guess on some scale they do. It was hard to picture Visser Three running around from hall to hall , and pressing whatever buttons he came across just for the fun of it. Grim as my situation was , I nearly laughed as the thought crossed my mind.

" In!" a Hork-Bajir warrior ordered me.

I hesitated. They were going to shut me up in some room , then leave me alone...totally alone? I'd have a chance to demorph? My heart gave a little leap , as I looked up at my guards' stoic expressions. Dare I to hope?

" In!" he repeated , raising a wrist blade. " Or dead."

......The Hork-Bajir need work on their English - lots of work.

I entered an oval shaped , steel , cell. How did I know I wasn't being watched , from someone unseen? When I demorphed , would they rush in at me while I was vulnerable , then drag me off to the Yeerk Pool to be infested?

The wounds on my Panda body screamed for relief. I swayed on my injured leg. The Hork-Bajir slashes I had received in battle were throbbing.

I just had to take the chance. In two minutes and a half , I wouldn't have a choice anymore. At least I hoped there was still time. Biting back my panic , I concentrated feverishly.

I nearly cried when the changes began , and I saw not front and back paws , but my own hands and feet. My fur was disappearing , my blonde hair was coming - YES!

I finished changing and stood up , fully human , in a tight , black, leotard.

I flexed my leg muscles , touched my hair , spoke with my own voice , and stood there a full minute staring at my hands.

At last , I wrapped my arms around myself and sank to the floor.

Now what? I wasn't trapped in morph , but trapped nonetheless in this steel cage. It was a dull place. Only four , glistening , steel , walls staring back at me. But there was some comfort in its concealment.

I didn't kid myself though. As Visser Three had so ominously stated , it 'wasn't over' , he would be back to torment me again as soon as his little dilemma was sorted out.

The question burning inside me was: Who was this Andalite? Was it possible for it not to be Aximili? If so , how did he end up here? Had they caught him yet?

As if to answer my question , all of a sudden the walls of my room went weird. At first I thought they had disappeared , but when I jumped up and tried to touch them , I could see they had just gone transparent. Then all of a sudden they went opaque again. Then a wide vertical slit formed.

I jumped back in dismay. I stood there absolutely terrified, thinking that they had come for me. But this soon? They'd just put me in here!

But no one entered. Without thinking , I seized the chance and darted out before it changed again.

No sooner had I done this , did a thought speak roar make me reconsider my decision to venture out of my cell. Maybe it was safer in there after all.

/FOOLS!/ roared a now familiar enraged , telepathic voice. /THE ANDALITE FILTH HAS GOTTEN INTO THE RAMONITE CONTROL AND REGULATION PANEL! SHUT OFF ALL EXITS IMMEDIATELY!/

I jumped. It made me wonder just how close he was. How far could a telepathic out burst carry?

A second later the slit that had opened in my cell sealed itself back.

My heart sank. Where could I go if all the exits had sealed themselves? They'd recapture me in no time!

Then I remembered passing a drop shaft down the left corridor. I made a break for it. The drop shafts still had to be operational - how else could they search for the Andalite?

I stepped into it, and frantically I thought up a floor number. I can't remember what , but I know I had chosen a low level. I didn't want to be anywhere near the battle bridge.

I was not at all thrilled with the prospect of having to morph again after I had just changed back , but without a weapon I was defenseless. I might just have no choice.

When I emerged , I nearly jumped out my skin. Running straight in the other direction was Hork-Bajir guard. His dracon beam glistened in its holster.

He was probably heading towards where ever the Andalite might be. Curious , I decided to follow. If I could find this Andalite and help him , he might help me. I thought two against a whole Yeerk army was better than one. Not much better , but better.

It was impossible to follow him without running. Hork-Bajir are fast. Luckily the pounding of his own footsteps covered my own.

He turned down a corridor to the right , and I kept up my pursuit. Suddenly he halted. I , however , had been laboring so hard to keep up that I didn't come to a stop quite as fast.

I came to more of a screeching sort of halt. The Hork- Bajir visibly stiffened. There was no doubt he'd heard me.

Ok. Time for desperate measures. Rachel would truly have been proud of me.

I charged for it , my foot steps pounding on the steel floor. It started to turn ... I started screaming , hoping to stun it off guard.

It worked. For a split second , he froze. Only for a split second , but it was enough. I grabbed his weapon out of his holder while he was still in mid turn. And with reflexes I never knew I had - you'd be surprised at how fast you can move when you're afraid - I fired the weapon.

The Hork-Bajir looked horrified , then fell stunned.

I was thankful that he was only stunned. He was a Yeerk , and my enemy. That didn't mean that I wanted to kill him in cold blood. Not even for a weapon that I might protect myself with.

Probably the dracon beam was set on stun , because he was ordered only to capture , and not kill whoever he was after. Not necessarily a good thing , when it comes to the Yeerks.

I stood there , staring at the weapon in my hand , and breathing hard.

Distantly , in front of me , I could see what looked like a door that had been barred shut.

I heard what sounded like someone pounding really hard against the door. But the door vibrated with not the sound of flesh hitting steel , but steel hitting steel.

I approached the door cautiously , debating whether I should make my presence known or not.

The clanging sound stopped. There was a pause. Then , / YEERK FILTH! UNLOCK THIS DOOR IMMEDIATELY AND FIGHT ME ,YOU COWARD!!/

I jumped back. Okay! This was definently an Andalite. I almost laughed.

" Hello?" I said softly , speaking cautiously , as one would to a cornered animal.

There was another pause , and more clanging on the door. Then suddenly it stopped again. I could hear labored breathing on the other end.

Then he spoke./ Who are you?/

" Um...Melissa. Melissa Chapman." I said.

/That does not sound like a Yeerkish name./ he said suspiciously.

" That's because I'm a human." I replied.

/You are one of HIS minions. A human CONTROLLER./ he said accused.

I began to notice that the voice was young. He sounded my age.

" I am not a controller." I said testily. " And if by one of 'his' minions , you mean Visser Three , - "

/ Of course , Visser Three! Who else but that beast?/

" Listen , to me." I said impatiently. " I'm a prisoner on this ship too. I'm not a Yeerk. I DON'T work for Visser Three , never will , never have. We aren't accomplishing anything by chattering our time away , so let me help you."

He seemed to be hesitating. / If you have lied.../

" You can trust me." I said. " But we have to hurry."

I took his silence for assent. " You need to back away from the door." I instructed.

I pushed the settings on the dracon beam higher , and leveled it with the door. " I hope you're out of the way."

I paused before firing. " By the way , what's your name?"

No answer.

" Okay. Don't tell me now. I just wondered , you know." I said conversationally. " I only know one Andalite. His name is Aximili-Esgarouth -Isthil. I hope yours is easier to pronounce."

Maybe letting on that I knew an Andalite might get him to trust me.

I fired the weapon. The hinges of the door melted and smoked. It gave of an acid smell.

" You should be able to kick the door down now. " I told him. " Try it."

I was right. In one , loud , well aimed , kick the door was down. He must have kicked with his back legs.

I moved away quickly. It fell with a clang.

I was getting nervous. With all the noise we were making - why hadn't the Yerks found us yet?

The door was smoking profusely now. I walked forward , still ever cautious , over the door. I wrinkled my nose at the smell of the smoke. Maybe I shouldn't have set the dracon beam so high after all.

I couldn't see anyone .

" Hey...where are you?"

I was sorry I'd asked.

I jolted in surprise when I felt a furry arm yank me against them from behind , and the cold blade of an Andalites tail against my throat.

/ Don't move./ he said coldly.

As if I could! I was already frozen with shock , and my back being pinned against his chest didn't help.

This was not good...not good at all. What was going on?! Couldn't he tell I was on his side by now?!

( Sorry for the wait on this chapter. I've been working , and work drains me. Anyone who's had to chase kids all day understands. Bad kids*shudders* Ok , could be worse , but you get my point. Yesterday evening , I came home at 5:00 and totally crashed untill 9:00. I had zero energy to hold my eyes open let alone type. I did however , manage to draw a fan art of Bakura while I was at work. You'd have to watch Yugi -Oh to know who he is. Sadly I don't own him.)

Bakura: Great new chapter! I like Reubren.

Author: Thanks Bakura! I knew you were my fave character for a reason....*walks way*

*Switches to evil counterpart , Yami Bakura* Y. Bakura : Fool! While she's asleep I will steal the millenium computer ( she's always writing absurd fanfics with it!) BUWAHAHAHA! All the millenium items will be mine! ^^