Tiamath; Yeah, well… honestly? It was only going to be a few chappies. But then everyone reviewed and I got inspired by all of you and I wrote more and more and (deep breath) well, I couldn't stop myself! EEEK!

Oh, and about your Q, with shape-shifting, while they're in another form, it's kinda lyk morphing. But in their own bodies… well… that's why they have scars; its from their past fights… when it didn't turn out so good…

Hope I've cleared that up. If not, read the first two chappies of Back to Our Beginning. It gives you an idea of what I mean… cause I'm not really… awake right now… need chocolate…

( )- dude, can you read my mind or something? THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING! Hehe! Nice call though…

LittleMidgett; you are? I think you need some sanity pills for that one…

Karone-sakura; I am so glad you're enjoying it! I was afraid you wouldn't like the romance between Robert and Sakura but… cool! Thankyou!

EVERYONE GETS EVERY KIND OF DESSERT THEY EVER WISHED FOR! YYYAAAAAYYYYYY!

-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-xx-x-x-x-x-

James

I adjusted the earpiece, then looked at the screen in front of me. Tried to remember what I'd learnt about the damn thing… and pressed a couple of buttons, hoping I didn't crash the damn ship.

Thankfully, there was a low hum as the ship responded.

"That's it James" a Chanaiben called Asen said, walking over to me.

Let me back up a bit and explain what was going on. More months had passed, and everything just seemed to get worse. We were fighting with all we had, and when I wasn't doing that, or eating, or sleeping, I was training with either Sakura or Robert.

One of the last battles had cost us an entire town.

Yes, that's right; we blew up our own town.

I was lucky enough to get my friends, and whoever else I could, out before then.

Then… we formed an alliance with the Taxxons.

Just before a fleet of Chanaiben ships, about twenty in all, came to the rescue.

Well, sort of. Only five were actual battle ships. Two were cargo ships (in case of repairs or whatever) and the rest were cruisers.

The Pool ship had landed, since the fight in space had begun, and now…

And now we were using four or five cruisers to go in, from all different angles, to board and take over the ship.

Where were the Andalites? No one knew.

Well, I didn't.

Now, I was with my friends, all twenty three of them, on the bridge. Craig and Erica were with me, but they were down in the engine room or whatever. Who knew they both liked mechanics so much?

They were all birds for now, and all had some kind of force-field perch to hang onto or whatever. Asen did something…

Not only was it me and my team, but Asen, this female Chanaiben called Favalla, Robert, Sakura, Desiree, and…

And my mom. Jade.

I felt better calling her Jade.

She was sitting next to me, her fingers trailing over the controls at her station. She seemed to know what she was doing…

Asen walked over, pushed another button, then walked off. I figured he'd know what was going on too.

"Approaching the Pool ship" Sakura announced, looking over Robert's shoulder. I seriously didn't believe she was from the past… she seemed to deal with things too easily…

"Is everyone in position? The others?" Robert asked, not looking up from what he was doing. Asen soon came over again.

"I'll check" Jade said, then tapped her earpiece.

"Jade to Ithiell. Are you in position?"

"We all are Jade. Now get your tail over here so we can get started"

I looked at my screen. All I could see was the Pool ship. Where were they…

"All right James, I think it's time for you to morph" Robert said. I nodded, then turned to my friends.

"Well? You heard him. Let's do it!"

"You've been around Rachel too long" Jade muttered as I got up. I smiled at her.

"No. More like you" I pulled off my earpiece as Erica and Craig came onto the bridge, starting to morph as well. I watched with a slight pang in my heart as my friends demorphed… all looking so weak and helpless…

No! Cassie was right! I was always babying them… treating them just how they hated to be treated… like they couldn't do anything for themselves…

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Jade grinned as she got up, then slapped my butt, walking off to another console. I yelped, then let out a strangled laugh…

And began to morph.

Again I felt the way my body changed, and the power that seeped from the lions form. This was the morph for battle.

Again I looked at my friends, all animals at the back of the bridge or in the hallway (Judy was only half-morphed) and felt a pang of fear and guilt. Then it was gone as I remembered they wanted this… they had all agreed to it… I didn't push them into it…

They had chosen. Just like I had.

And with that, I had met my real family. True, it was all pretty… strange, but… I felt I belonged with them. My mother had never returned… my foster mother… and I guessed these HBs had probably had something to do with it… no real loss though…

When I was done, I looked around at my friends again, then at the others on the bridge. Jade was leaning over Favalla, and both of them seemed to be working on something. Robert was patting Sakura's hand, which was on his shoulder, and Asen was walking around, doing something or other…

"All right, ready?" Robert asked. He took a glance at all of us, then he and Jade share a look and a nod.

"Ithiell, we're all ready" Jade spoke into her earpiece. I never heard the reply, but all off a sudden the cruiser was speeding forwards, and half of us ended up tumbling backwards. I slipped, but managed to stay on my feet… barely.

"FIRE!" Asen roared.

Twin beams of light suddenly shot out, heading straight for the Pool ship. That's when I realised there were four other beams of light heading for the ship as well.

CR-CABAAMMM!

Something exploded, causing their force-fields to go down!

"All right! GO GO GO!" Jade screamed, and the cruiser manoeuvred to attach itself onto the hull of the Pool ship. I saw the others doing the same, then they disappeared from view as we latched onto the ship.

"Docking clamps… in!" Favalla yelled.

"Sakura, stay here!" Robert yelled, and he and Jade shared another glance as they got up, and walked towards us.

"All right everyone, to the hatch!" Jade cried, ushering us out. Well all turned and made our way to the exit. From somewhere we heard…

"We are grinding into the hull!"

"We are through!"

"Pressurising!"

"Pressurising complete! We are awaiting your command!"

We reached the hatch, and I suddenly realised we'd picked up a white tiger and a polar bear on the way. They squeezed through, and then the bear slammed a paw into the pad to open the inner hatch. It swung open.

(Now I want everyone in twos! It'll be safer that way, and we can watch each others backs!) Jade said, and I realised she was the tigress. I should have realised that…

(When we've gotten in, we have to split into two groups. My group will head to the engine room. Jade's will head to the bridge. It's the two strongest places on this ship. Understood?)

We did.

(All right Asen, let's do it!) Jade said, then to me (Gee, you're right James)

Then the outer hatch opened… and we piled out into the madness.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Jade

I was more proud of James than I had ever been of anyone. He fought bravely, and saved his friends when they were in trouble.

Soon, we all managed to split up.

James and about ten others were coming with me. Jake, Ithiell and Rtaia were going to meet us at the bridge. Ax and the other Animorphs, along with Amanda, were going to the pool, hopefully to free the prisoners, and take out what Yeerks they could.

I ran beside James, with the others following, occasionally meeting up with a Hork-Bajir or a human controller…

Safe to say, James and I worked really well as a team.

Then we were there. A tiger, a black wolf and Rtaia were waiting for us.

(About time you got here) Ithiell mumbled. I just grinned sheepishly. And yes, tigers can grin. Well, I could…

(All right, let's do this) Jake said, turning back to Rtaia and giving her a nod. I watched as she placed a small flat disk-like… thing… on the panel, doing something weird with it.

Then, the doors slowly began to open. Rtaia was soon a cougar, and was ready when…

(ANDALITES!)

(GO!) Ithiell screamed, and we tore into the room.

-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-x-

Amanda

Marco yanked the door of the cage open, ushering people out of it. I stood there, watching for anything suspicious. Blood caked my white fur (not really white) and I held one paw of the ground. Well, it was now half a paw.

All around, the others were doing the same. Either freeing the caged, or wandering around, doing something or other. Ax was in a strange box-thing of some kind, working the controls of… whatever.

(Marco, what's he doing?) I asked as I helped him open another cage door.

(Who Ax?) he squinted at Ax for a moment, before shrugging his massive gorilla shoulders (I have no idea)

(Oh. Think it's safe to shift back? This kinda hurts)

(Go for it. I'll watch your back)

(Okay) I shifted to human, looking around at everyone. The people and Hork-Bajir were out, not really seeming like the knew what to do.

"I suggest you all stay here until this ship is secured!" I called to them, and they all turned to look at me. One, a little boy, came up and looked at me. He couldn't have been more than nine or ten.

"Who are you?"

I smiled, kneeling down and gently taking his hands in mine.

"We're here to get you out of here"

"Are they gonna come… are those Yeerks gonna get…"

"No sweetie. I promise they'll never bother you again"

He hugged me then, crying tears from the months or years he was probably enslaved. I hugged him back, reassuring him.

(Marco? Amanda? Anyone? Can I have some help, please?) Ax called. I picked the kid up and Marco and I walked over to him.

(Shall I… dump this cargo?) he asked, looking from Marco to me. Well, one stalk eye looked at me, and the other at Marco who was quickly demorphing.

When he was done, Marco and I looked at each other. Then, I looked out to the others, who were helping the freed humans and Hork-Bajir. Why hadn't Ax called…

Then I realised it. And I realised Ax was a smart little alien.

Marco and I were the only ones he trusted to make the right decision. He didn't trust Cassie, and Tobias… well, that was the only thing I didn't understand.

I looked at Marco again. He frowned, then shrugged.

"I don't have a clue" he mumbled. I looked at Ax… then the little boy by my side now, and then the pool…

And made the only decision I could make.

"Leave them. They're no danger to us now. But they are prisoners of war" I said softly, and the boy looked up at me and smiled.

I knew I'd made the right choice. The little boy would learn from this, hopefully.

And so would I.

I grabbed the small earpiece that was in my pocket, putting it to my ear, and hoping the others were doing all right…

--x-xx-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Um… sorry dudes! I hope this was cool enough for you!

Whee! Bye!