About a force field prank

When Larynia's internal clock told her that her time on duty was up, she finished her game on the computer and called for Minalea. After a moment's consideration, she called for Carali as well. Minalea would not be pleased, but even thought Larynia (as well as Olana) was Minalea's best friend since before they'd learned to run, Larynia could agree with Carali that there was a limit to how many times tripping over a wire was entertaining. And that limit had been reached and passed.

As soon as the two had arrived, Larynia handed over command of the computer to Minalea, and exchanged a glance with Carali as he took a place out in the middle of the bridge, from where he had a reasonable view of what was going on.

I'll go down to Olana, and keep watch over her so Estrid can get some sleep, Larynia announced. She needs sleep, too, whether she realises it or not.

We'll be fine without you, Carali assured her, stifling a yawn. He was tired.

Minalea glared at the both of them. Go on down, Larynia, she muttered. I'm perfectly able to deal with this one on my own. Especially since you decided to switch sides.

Someone needs to watch you, Carali said simply, while Larynia only grimaced.

Oh, then what am I? An exhibition tail fighter? Neither Carali or Larynia could help laughing at that one, but Minalea continued without caring for that; A morph dancer? An actress? I can do without people hanging over my tail-blade, watching my every move, thank you very much.

You might be fine, Larynia said. But 'people' might not.

That's peoples' problem, Minalea stated nonchalantly.

That's why people have sent a representative to make sure the trouble is kept at minimum, Carali said. I'm going to make sure you don't put up any trip wires, and there isn't much you can do about it.

Minalea looked at him with raised eyebrows for a long time, but finally flicked her tail in indifference. Fine. Stand there and watch, if you want to. I'm just going to play a few games of fari tar jin, and you're NOT invited to join me. She turned demonstratively to the consoles to begin the game.

Fari tar jin was a game Aralgo had managed to install those first days after leaving the Daybreak. It was okay to play alone, but playing in a group was absolutely better. Carali, though, chose not to comment it. He was not very good at fari tar jin, anyway.  If you say so, he simply agreed, preparing himself for a long, boring watch. At least it was better than the sever bruising his front knees would suffer if he didn't keep watch.

Have fun, Larynia murmured as she left the bridge and headed down to Olana's quarters.

At the end of her sentry shift Minalea finished off her game and turned to Carali, who was still standing in that same spot. There. Done. See? No pranks made. No trip wires, no nothing. I'm off duty now – your turn. She began walking towards the corridor leading to their quarters.

I'm surprised at you, Minalea, Carali admitted, waking up from a half-doze. Pleasantly surprised.

He gave her a last look, turned, and stepped purposefully towards the consoles. And suddenly felt like he had walked into an invisible wall.

It took him a moment to realise what had happened. And then…

A force field! he exclaimed, swivelling towards the other aristh with an outraged expression. Minalea-Silinan-Alareim! You put up a force field around me?

Minalea was too busy laughing to answer him.

Let me out at once! he demanded, glaring at her. She must have ordered the force field up in private thought-speech. He would never have known. The possibility that she might have been infested struck him, but he dismissed it at once; she hadn't been out of sight at any time during their visit to the SwiftHoof. There'd been no opportunity to infest her.

Perhaps… no, Minalea grinned. She danced closer to him, stopping just outside the force field cage, regarding him in an amused manner. You know, I can't believe I never thought of this before. It's just too brilliant.

Let me out!

I think not.

Minalea!

She only kept grinning. Don't worry, Carali. It's a one-way force field, so we'll be able to give you some grass to eat once in a while.

One-way?

Yep. Means you can't get out – but we can get in. To demonstrate, she stuck a hand through the force field.

Naturally, she had been planning to pull it back to safety before he had time to react, but Carali moved too quickly. Suddenly he had grabbed her hand and wrist, and, by tugging back sharply with his entire weight, pulled her through the force field and into the cage.

Carali! she complained, regaining control over momentum – and her balance – by staggering into the force field wall on the other side of the cage. You weren't supposed to do that!

You've only got yourself to blame, he said. He realized he was still holding her hand, and hurriedly let go of it.

She gave her a look as sharp as a tail-blade. How dare you ruin a good prank?

Oh, never mind that, he said. I've got duties to attend to, and honestly, I wouldn't mind if you left. So the fun is hereby over. Computer? Remove force field at location B4.

No sooner had he finished the sentence than he found the force field pushing inwards. The cage shrank rapidly, making both Carali and Minalea stumble towards each other. They ended up side by side, standing very awkwardly with the cage pressing them together.

Minalea glared some more, tail twitching. Now look at what you've done!

Carali's hand had been caught between their sides, and he wrenched it free, held it up behind him, uncertain of what to do with it. What? he snapped.

You can't give a ship orders from inside a force field cage, you stupid gifash! And if you try to have a force field cage removed from inside it, the cage will only shrink!

And how was I supposed to know that?

You could have thought!

Well, he grumbled. We'll just have to call someone and ask them to let us out.

Minalea twisted where she stood, to give herself more room for her shoulders and arms. She was not as tall as Carali, and felt almost crushed between the merciless force field and the bigger male. His tail had somehow managed to end up held low, and that scythe of his was alarmingly (and annoyingly) close to her back hooves. She had no space to move.

No space.

No space.

She fought down a sudden wave of claustrophobia, closing her eyes and focusing on breathing. There was room to breathe – was room to breathe, if not to move… couldn't move. Couldn't move. She felt nauseous, her legs feeling weak and wobbly beneath her. She would have swayed if there'd been space for it, and felt her face go pale.

Carali looked down at her, at once concerned. Are you okay?

Claustrophobia, she explained in a weak voice. I'm fine. Just… why do you have to take up so much space?!

I'm… sorry? he tried, stalks flickering towards her uncertainly, mixing surprise with a look of wondering if perhaps he should be feeling insulted.

He tried to move away to give her some more room, knowing – as all Andalites – exactly how claustrophobia felt and not wishing it on her any more than on anyone else (with the obvious exception of certain slugs). Unfortunately, there was no room to move away to. Just a nice mess we've gotten ourselves into, he muttered conversationally.

Her eyes flashed open. 'We'? I blame this on you. You dragged me into this – and you made the force field shrink.

You put it up to begin with.

Only as a joke. I was planning to let you out, you know.

Why don't I trust you on that?

Like sleeping here a few nights would've done you any harm, Minalea huffed. But now, thanks to you, we're both trapped.

There was always the suggestion of calling for help… he reminded her. However, reminded of how closely the two were standing, and that the force field was invisible, he added; Although on seeing us, they may get the wrong impression.

About what? she snapped, but then noticed his meaningful glance and simply said; Oh.

Aralgo would be grinning for weeks, Carali predicted amiably.

Minalea grimaced. She twisted again, suddenly very aware of exactly where his body was in contact with her own.

She hated being trapped, she thought, trying to focus on something else. Hated it. But then the claustrophobia threatened to reappear, so she quickly decided not to think of that, either.

Well, Carali continued. It's not much we could do about it, anyway. Either we call for help now, or we can wait until they find us in the morning. I suggest, he made yet another failed attempt to put some distance between them, that we call for help now.

Are you that eager to be rid of me? she wondered sharply, but some of her normal playfulness was back in her voice.

Not… exactly, he hurried to say, knowing that if he was not careful, she would take that sentence, twist its meaning around to fit her own purposes, and throw a tantrum, just for the sake of it – and maybe for her own amusement. If she did, things would turn unpleasant, as he would be forced to stay and listen.

That's what you implied.

I did not.

Did so, Minalea disagreed, seeking his gaze and holding it.

Are we going to call for help or not? he asked in a desperate attempt to change the subject.

See! You just did it again. Am I really that horrible?

Now Carali began to feel annoyed. You put up trip wires. You giggle too much. You locked me in a force field cage, and even managed to blame me for it. You twist people's sentences against them. Yes, that would classify you as quite horrible.

Suddenly, unexpectedly – and therefore very to-the-point Minalea – she broke out laughing. She actually shook with laughter. But when she made another attempt to move, her back hooves tripped over his tail-blade. Her front hooves found no room to try to balance her, so she slipped unavoidably down towards the floor, the laughter gone, and the amusement on her face replaced by surprise.

Carali managed to catch her under her arms before she hit the floor. Getting back up in that limited space would have been awkward, not to say impossible. She fumbled with her legs for a moment before her hooves got a good grip on the floor and she could straighten back up, with some help from Carali.

He still held his arms around her, hands locked behind her back, standing with his upper body twisted to the side and leaning slightly towards her as he had been forced to do in order to catch her. She was, for a moment, struck by another burst of claustrophobia, but it was forgotten when she looked up and let her eyes meet his. There was something in them, something very intense, that she hadn't seen before. It both frightened and enticed her.

Carali? she said uncertainly.

Yes?

You… you can release me now.

Yes – yes… of course.

But he made no attempt to do so, neither his gaze nor his arms moving away from her, and Minalea made no attempt to break free. Instead, on impulse, she raised a trembling hand to his face and experimentally traced the line of his jaw. When she lowered her hand, his face followed for as far as it could. That caused his forehead to bump into hers, and stay tilted against it, but neither of them minded. One of Minalea's arms had somehow found its way up around his neck. Their stalks brushed gently past each other, with their stalk-eyes half-closed, both completely forgetting the basic rule of "stalks always scanning".

Minalea was aware of one arm being freed from around her, so he could bring that hand to her face. Locking her gaze in his again, she was glad the other arm was still around her. If it let go, she thought, she would fall; for she was suddenly very unsteady.

Carali's hand was drawn gently across her face, rounding her cheek and then continuing down the side of her throat… only to suddenly be withdrawn. His other hand grasped her wrist, of the arm she'd held around his neck. Then she felt herself pushed away, as far away as possible in the limited space, and the Carali that regarded her was slightly wide-eyed – as if frightened.

What is it? she wondered, trying to calm down her racing hearts.

If they would get the wrong impression before, just imagine what they would make of this!

He was still clasping her wrist, in a manner that suggested he had no intentions on letting go. She lifted it, slowly, and pressed the back of his hand determinately against her cheek. Impressions they might get, she murmured. but would it be the wrong ones?

I… do not know, Carali said softly. You tell me.

Minalea surveyed his face. She focused on the dominant feature of that face – the dominant feature of any Andalite face – which was, clearly, his eyes. His eyes sparkled as he watched her, with a strange gentleness which made her feel like she was going to melt, and with visible confusion over that gentleness. They were green, as any Andalite eyes, but a darker, lusher shade of green that was absolutely tantalizing. She could easily drown in those eyes.

And very nearly did. But, shivering, she forced her gaze away and spoke. We still need to call for help to get out of this cage. She glanced towards the corridor leading away from the bridge with a stalk. We can't call Olana, for obvious reasons. Not Larynia either, who is watching her. She'd just tell us to shut up and manage on our own.

And we cannot call Aralgo… he would never let us forget it.

Maybe we should call for Estrid. She would probably be the least likely to draw any hasty conclusions, Minalea suggested, and Carali agreed. So they began calling for the scientist.

Rachel, Tobias (now in human morph), JaLa'an and KEdi'ir were playing garih at the new campsite, while Jake and Sira'aki kept watch. KEdi'ir's ears both leaned heavily outwards in a broad, childish smile, as he was winning the game. Neither Rachel nor Tobias put much heart into it, more focused on their private, whispered conversations, and JaLa'an was constantly turning away to help Jake and Sira'aki keep watch.

One time, after KEdi'ir had tossed the almost square, flat stone that decided whose turn it was, it landed in Rachel's part of the circular game-area. She picked up her three chosen stones and fingered them, forgetting to expression growing more and more distant. Then suddenly her face twisted into a grimace and she dropped the stones, hands flying up to the sides of her head.

"JaLa'an, KEdi'ir, ri'imak," Rachel gritted, rubbing her temples. "Tobias – move."

KEdi'ir was at once on his feet and headed up into the nearest tree. JaLa'an was slightly slower, taking the time to grab Tobias's arm and pulling him along.

"Hey!" Tobias exclaimed, twisting his arm free and starting back towards Rachel, whose face was still contorted in pain.

JaLa'an simply wrapped a horn around the disobedient human and yanked him back. Tobias landed flat on his back, all air leaving his lungs. When he'd taken a deep breath and regained control of his aching lungs he'd already been pulled some distance from Rachel, and he glared up at the Kelbrid, beginning to struggle back up.

By then Jake was turning back towards camp, watching his cousin with some concern. But when he began forwards, JaLa'an shook his head.

"Ky'y i'art yanu'uth'u siriv di'tas kii-raja kos lke'el cer," the Kelbrid said lowly.

"Kii-raja?" Tobias echoed. "Tom?"

JaLa'an only nodded.

Then Tom burst into the clearing and rushed towards Rachel, visible as only a golden blur. That golden blur proceeded to knock his waiting human to the ground and greet her in a way that looked like he might eat her in the process – if only by accident. Probably anything that had been in his way would have been… hurt. At best. Keeping a distance was probably a good idea.

Even after Rachel (a couple of minutes later) managed to push her beast away, he stayed to hover anxiously nearby, almost dancing in place, only putting enough distance between himself and the human to make sure his claws did not cut her.

"Tom, you clumsy monster," Rachel muttered, one hand still rubbing her forehead as the other shot out to shove at her kii-raja. "Stop prodding! It hurts."

Tom let out a low whine, ceasing to dance around and sitting down. Rachel eventually stopped grimacing and stood up.

"What did he do?" Jake asked. He was wise enough not to come too close. Tobias had tried, only to be met by a snarl – which had earned the kii-raja another set of harsh words from Rachel.

"He always announces when he's coming, by thought, but when he gets eager he does it a little too sharply," Rachel muttered. "He prods. Gives me a horrible headache."

She placed a hand on Tom's head and scratched his healthy ear affectionately. The other ear was already healing, and he had lost his limp, but still Rachel found it better to leave the wounded ear alone. "Now where did you leave Jeanne, Santorelli and Marco?"

Right here, Marco's voice came, probably from the same direction as Tom had come, but one could not judge direction by thought-speech. Do you know exactly how effective the word 'yaysh' is when you have one kii-raja and you're looking for one Rachel?

A wolf trotted into the clearing. He sat down by the edge, let his nose twitch for a moment, and then – assured that it was safe – began demorphing.

"Hello, Marco," Jake greeted him. "And the other two? You were sort of responsible for them, so I hope you haven't abandoned them somewhere."

Course not, Marco retorted. They're coming. We used that monster to locate you after this camp – he switched to normal speech; "camp-switching, so Jeanne stayed human to hold on to his tail and make sure he didn't take off completely after we said you-know-which word."

"It didn't work?" Rachel guessed, now moving on to rub the sides of Tom's neck.

"Oh, it worked fine," Marco informed her pleasantly. "For about two minutes. Then Tom got impatient and sped up. He dragged Jeanne about a hundred meters before she let go. After that, we had to track him. Fortunately, he smells."

"Does not," Rachel snapped, one arm protectively around her kii-raja's neck as she and the beast glared at Marco.

"Does too."

"He doesn't –"

"Look, who just spent time as a wolf trying to sniff him out? Me or you?"

Rachel responded by uttering a more or less rude word, and Tom dutifully snarled his agreement, making Marco take a cautious step back.

"So Tom smells," Jake concluded. "How does that tell me where the rookies are?"

Jeanne had to morph, so Marco just went ahead to check the scene, Santorelli said. His rhino was coming out from among the trees at a trot, flanked by Jeanne's panther.

Besides, Jake, Jeanne added silkily. I'd hardly count us as rookies any more.

"Any sign of Menderash?"

The trail led to the Blade ship, Jeanne told him. Tom led us there – once he'd figured out what we wanted.

Rachel nodded. She was sitting next to the pile of packs, thoroughly going through them, looting them for something edible. When she'd found enough, she waved the three new arrivals over. "Come and eat something, you need it – we've already eaten."

Marco hurried forwards. "Food. Great. I'm starving."

Rachel held out packet of squirming pata'oki, and he moved to snatch it. But Tom leapt between them and bared his teeth in warning. Marco froze, while Rachel shoved her kii-raja aside. "Stop that, Tom," she muttered, pressing the packet into Marco's still out-stretched hand. "Sorry. He does that sometimes."

When it was Santorelli's turn he moved more slowly, careful to seem harmless, earning no more than a suspicious glare from the golden beast.

Finally, Jeanne – smiling – made a gesture at Tom, which made him sit down. He let her come close enough to take her food and was rewarded by a generous amount of ku'ulj. He looked extremely pleased with himself as he chewed it. Jeanne stroked his ears. "See, Marco? A well-placed bride will do the trick."

"If I tried to give that thing food he'd take my entire arm," Marco predicted.

"Don't be silly. Not without mustard."

"Mustard?" Marco questioned, voice muffled as his mouth was filled with the disorderly pata'oki.

"Ketchup would fine too," Jeanne assured him.

"You know, I think Marco's arm would go down just as it is," Rachel mused. "He is getting hungry. I should send him hunting…" She lapsed into silence, eyes suddenly glazed over.

Someone coming? Tobias guessed. He had demorphed and was, as usual, now perched on Rachel's shoulder – under her kii-raja's careful supervision, unavoidably.

Rachel nodded. She made a twisting movement with her hand at Tom, and pointed in amongst the trees, past Jake. "Fetch," she commanded. Her beast darted off in the direction she had pointed, visible again as only a streak of gold-brown fur. He almost knocked Jake off his feet as he passed him.

"Who?" Jake wondered, regaining his balance.

"Morphable. Human… more details as he gets closer, so…" Her forehead was laid in lines as she focused on her kii-raja's mental sendings.

Suddenly there was a loud cry, followed by a rumbling that could have been a distant snarl. Rachel's face was lit by a grin.

"What, exactly, is he doing?" Marco asked suspiciously.

"Fetching," Rachel replied happily.

Only a few moments had passed when Tom returned, this time not alone. He was partly carrying (with his teeth), partly herding, and partly dragging a human in a Blade ship uniform. He brought his captive to Rachel and effortlessly knocked the human to the ground with a final swipe of his paw.

"Melissa!" Rachel exclaimed, hurrying to help her friend back up. The sudden movement made Tobias flutter from her shoulder and up to a branch. Tom sat down, head on the side, obviously puzzled by his human's behaviour.

"Nice to see you again," Melissa said in reply, wincing as she moved – Tom had used his claws and teeth in order to make sure she went in the right direction. "Less nice to see your kii-raja, though."

"Tom? Oh, he's harmless."

Melissa regarded the clear teeth marks on her upper left arm and shoulder. "I'm sure he is." She glanced towards Jake. "Your permission to morph without risk being attacked?"

Jake nodded, warily, and Melissa began morphing. Rachel took a hold on Tom's ear.

"What do you want this time?" Marco asked, arms crossed across his chest.

"I brought you your nothlit," Melissa said, and switched to thought-speech; Thought you might need him.

"Menderash?"

A nod from Melissa, who by then was a barely recognizable, tiny heap of willowy, red and bright yellow limbs with small paws, a long tail and a head on a thin neck, all with some trace of humanity still mixed in.

"A ji'ilam?" Rachel said, and the lizard-like creature nodded. "Isn't that a bit cold?"

The creature nodded again, and began demorphing back to Melissa. She was shivering, and her lips weren't the only part of her that was blue with cold. "L-l-last time I m-morph on rand-dom," she declared. "D-damn that thing and its need of h-h-heat."

"Melissa?" Jake said with fake patience.

"Y-yes?" The shivering was slowly subsiding.

"Where's Menderash?" Jake demanded.

"I'll sh-show you," Melissa offered, rubbing her hands for warmth as she begun to leave camp again. She turned and waited for someone to follow, frowning. "He isn't in very good shape, Jake. Are you coming?"

Jake and Marco exchanged a glance: Jake questioning and Marco's slight scowl speaking clearly; it could be a trap. Jake's expression switched to a frown.

"Oh, seriously," Rachel exclaimed, rolling her blind eyes, hooking her arm in Jake's and dragging him along as she began towards Melissa, who now wore a many-meanings smile. The smile froze when Rachel added; "Come along, Tom."

But without a word of complaint, Melissa led the three away.

"So," Marco said. "If it's a trap, and Jake gets butchered, who do we nominate for our next Supreme Fearless Leader?"

"Shut up, Marco," Jeanne ordered, before putting the last of her meal into her mouth. She'd taken a break from eating when Melissa had arrived.

Santorelli smiled. "We have a nominee," he declared. "Already giving orders. Taking a head start?"

"You can shut up, too," Jeanne told him pleasantly.

Santorelli only snickered.

Estrid had just succeeded in falling asleep. Therefore she looked a bit grumpy as she arrived at the bridge, but at the sight of Carali and Minalea, still trapped in the force field cage, her face quickly turned to surprise and then to a knowing smile that made both of the arisths feel uncomfortable.

Well well, Estrid said, eyes twinkling. What have we here?

One of Minalea's pranks backfired, Carali explained.

My pranks do not backfire! Minalea spat, insulted, glaring at him. Nobody spoke ill of her pranks and got away with it.

Oh, really? Then it was intentional? he questioned silkily, and gave her a piercing look.

To her absolute horror, Minalea found herself beginning to blush under that look.

I see, Estrid muttered, watching the two with one eyebrow raised. Her stalks were swivelling lazily – a habit she had begun to copy from the rest of them.

I locked him in here, Minalea confessed. But he pulled me in after him. And then he shrunk the force field by trying to remove if from the inside.

You can't remove a force field from the inside, Estrid sighed, as if that was common knowledge.

That's what I told him. And smugly, Minalea added; Or maybe that was the intentional part, Carali?

Oh, hush. Carali did not like the turn the conversation had taken. Could you let us out, Estrid?

Are you sure you want out? the scientist asked, amused.

Estrid! they complained in perfect chorus.

All right, all right. Computer? Please remove force field at location B4.

The force field fell away. Minalea and Carali each took a step away from the other – and Carali, relieved, raised his tail back up to where he usually carried it. Only then did they notice that they were still holding hands. They quickly let go.

Thank you, Estrid, Carali said lowly.

You're welcome, Estrid replied. This time. Because, just so you know, I am not going to save you out of any more… backfired pranks, if that's what you wish to call them. I need my sleep.

With that – and a last, amused look back – she left them to manage on their own. They exchanged a glance. Carali was the first to speak: No more force field cages.

Agreed.

Carali blinked in surprise that she had actually consented to give up on a prank – not that he was about to complain. And what do we do about this? he wondered instead, and to show her what he meant he let a finger brush past his cheek. He had to stifle a sudden urge to step closer to her and embrace her again. No telling where that might end.

Minalea's eyes glittered. Any suggestions?

Pretend it never happened?

She looked vaguely hurt. Do you want that?

No, Carali said quickly. I just… He suddenly stopped speaking, realising that he had no idea what he wanted to say.

She sighed. I… maybe I should go back to my quarters. I need sleep, too – I've been up most of the night. And you're supposed to be on duty, aristh Carali-Sarthantir-Malar, or do you actually intend to neglect your tasks?

With a start, he realised that was correct. But he didn't want her to leave.

There was no need to ask her to stay, either, as things turned out. For suddenly the ship's computer flashed its warning signal and they both hurried to the main console. Carali's fingers went to the control board and began working.

What is it? Minalea asked.

A hologram appeared, first showing an overview of their surroundings, and then zooming in on a large number of small, black objects that were steadily advancing on their ship, the Phantom. They watched the picture for a while, as the computer rushed to clarify it enough for it to be recognized and categorized.

Kelbrid, Carali said tonelessly, adopting the almost indifferent expression every aristh was strictly taught.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Author's Note;

I've been a good little writer and typed very quickly, haven't I? *smile*

Yes, as Sunset Dolphn figured out, Olana's Yeerk died of Kandrona starvation because of the Cava'aran sun. I've got high plans for that sun. *rubs hands* And I'd like to mention that yes, DJ Eagle, Cassie's coming back. Soon. At least… well, she's not actually coming back, but she'll be in the story. And Jake won't be happy.

You'll understand what I mean when you read that chapter.

She is coming back properly awhile after that, though. I've just got to write… oh, I don't know, five chapters? Six? Seven? I just can't seem to keep this short, nice and simple. *goes to fetch dictionary in order to check definition of those completely unknown words* But she will play a major part in the story (which also her being sub-temporally grounded will), I promise. It'll just take awhile.

I'd like to thank anyone who reviewed the last chapter. And, one more thing; don't forget to *takes deep breath* REVIEW(!!!!!) this one.

*grins* Haven't said that for the last few chapters.