When Jake repeats a decision

.

.

Where are we?

Minalea woke instantly from her doze at the sound of Carali's groggy, searching thought-speech. So he had finally decided to come to.

In a tree, she replied, somewhat snappishly.

Oh, Carali muttered. His eyes slowly blinked, peering. A tree. What are we doing in a tree?

Being held prisoner, Minalea informed him.

Oh, sighed Carali. Then he twitched, and his eyes flew wide open. Being what? Before, Ouch, my head. My face. He tried to lift a hand, perhaps to carefully touch his swollen brow, and cheeks, to examine the damage, but his hands were fettered behind his back, fastened to the sheath around his tail-blade. The muscles of his arms and tail flexed and strained for a moment, attempting to break free, before he sighed heavily in defeat and relaxed. His stalks opened and began carefully swivelling. He tried, with limited success, to look at his own face. Oh, he repeated, even more heavily than his sigh. Now I remember.

He spun his stalks up to look at Minalea. First, he appeared relieved to find her unharmed. Then… How come you're not wearing any shackles? he wondered.

I got rid of them, Minalea told him shortly. She saw Carali's face bulge oddly, the beginning of a morph, and quickly stopped him with a No, don't morph. Wait a moment.

Carali eyed her curiously, still with only his stalks, but she ignored him, instead calling down and out of their hole in the tree: Kelbrid! Come up here! …only after which she realised that the Kelbrid might have changed their guard.

To her relief, the same Kelbrid who had warned her not to morph before now climbed up.

She pointed to Carali. Can he morph? she asked directly. To take away the bruising?

"It… relieves wounds?" questioned the Kelbrid, his voice rising and falling, almost twirling, like a fickle wind. Due to the nature of thought-speech, he did not need to ask for the meaning of the unfamiliar word 'morph'.

Yes, it does, affirmed Minalea, ignoring how Carali stared at her, clearly unsure of what to think of her dialogue with their captor.

The Kelbrid considered it, aiming his green-pupilled gaze first at Minalea, and then at Carali.

Carali was still lying on his side on the floor, even more cumbersome than a lying Andalite usually was, due to his tied hands and tail. He had raised his head to stare at Minalea and the Kelbrid, his eyes peering out from his bruised face, but had otherwise not moved.

"Very well," decided the Kelbrid finally. "On two conditions, I'll allow him to transform."

Which? Minalea wondered.

Don't trust it, Carali warned her privately. Keep out of its reach. It'll hurt you.

"Firstly, that he returns to this form at once."

He agrees to that, Minalea said, without asking the other aristh.

"And secondly… come closer."

Minalea blandly did so – to her surprise, a horn curled around her stalks, blinding them, and pulling her painfully even closer. The Kelbrid lay his arm over her shoulders with the sharp wrist blade to her throat. "Now he may morph."

Carali was scrambling, desperately trying to stand up, growling Your tail, Minalea! Use your tail!

Minalea, quivering, did not as much as twitch her blade. Just morph, Carali, she whispered unhappily.

Carali, now on his hooves and with his hands and tail again straining in their bonds, carefully analyzed the scene. He paid particular attention to the Kelbrid's free spiked tail, one free horn, one free arm… and his own fettered tail. Then he began morphing. He took on the shape of a djabala, before reverting quickly to Andalite.

Release her, he said softly – if an angry voice could ever be soft. Please.

Minalea wondered for a moment what that last word would have cost his pride.

"Of course," the Kelbrid agreed, at once releasing Minalea. Then he advanced on Carali, daintily picking up the fallen shackles off the floor with the use of his tail. "Stand still."

Carali bounded away. No! I won't be fettered –

Minalea only watched in confused horror as the same Kelbrid who had shown her such kindness merely an hour before, whipped his horns forwards and in a moment had pulled Carali's hooves out from under him. Before Carali could reclaim his footing, the Kelbrid leapt on top of him, landing with both his mighty claws ready to dig deep into the aristh's tail.

"Twitch, and I'll be forced to sever it," the Kelbrid informed his captive calmly. "Then, perhaps, you'll be more cooperative."

Why don't you just kill me and have it done with? spat Carali.

The Kelbrid was securing the fetters to the Andalite's wrists and tail again. He finished that, and helped Carali back up, practically lifting the aristh onto his hooves. (He was clearly stronger than he looked.) Then, with the sparkle of the green pupil in his black eyes now growing annoyed, he replied: "Because I am a Kelbrid. And Kelbrid do not kill children."

Liar! I've seen them. The Dome ships, captured by you. The dead. In piles. You've stacked them in piles, like rubbish. Including dead arisths.

"They were killed by Kelbrid who cannot tell an adult Andalite from a child. I can. Their error is unforgivable, of course, and should be duly avenged. Point to the culprits, young one, and more than one Kelbrid will rally for justice. On my horns, though, I swear to you, I am not guilty of such crimes."

Carali blinked, the air for the time taken out of his rage. It glowed on in his eyes, though, and he seethed silently until the Kelbrid left.

The Kelbrid did so almost at once. "The fetters are to help discourage him from escaping," he explained to Minalea, kindness returned to his voice. "You, child, I trust." He lowered his horns in some sort of greeting, and climbed back down to his waiting kii-raja.

Me, he trusts? giggled Minalea, turning to Carali, grinning brightly.

It's probably just because you're a female, spat the other aristh, refusing to look at her.

Minalea regarded him curiously, wondering at his aggressive mood – and wondering why he turned it on her. Slowly, it dawned on her that Carali was afraid. Perhaps, more afraid than she was herself. Watching him, she could see how he stared intently at the hole of their cell, as if considering a hasty escape, while his stalks circled, twitchingly, always avoiding her.

Suddenly feeling strangely mothering, she walked up to beside where he stood and leaned against him, resting her arm on the small of his back. She was thankful to find that he did not pull away. They won't hurt us, Carali, she murmured.

I'm not afraid of being hurt, he snapped.

Then what are you afraid of?

The look he gave her in reply was a mingle of annoyance and vexation and worry and tenderness, and Minalea was not sure whether she should be angry or blush. His eyes gleamed like emeralds, and his hands clenched and were forced to relax in their shackles. He exhaled and turned from her, his expression suddenly stubborn and denying.

But you are afraid, Minalea tried.

Yes, admitted Carali in a very tiny voice.

They won't hurt us.

Perhaps not. Perhaps they will simply keep us here in this hollow forever. Perhaps they will even bring us food and drink. Perhaps, you're right: perhaps they mean us no harm.

They mean to take us to Dina'amm. He said so. Minalea put her chin on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

To the Yeerks?

Yes, confirmed Minalea in a whisper. And then –

Hush, murmured Carali, comforting, turning his face towards her again and touching his stalks to hers. So you spoke to that Kelbrid before?

Yes. He was friendly enough.

He could have been unfriendly. You'd never have known… until it was too late. You could have been… he silenced, before finishing: You could have been hurt.

You don't trust my judgement.

Not for a moment.

Minalea blinked in surprise at that direct honesty, wondering if she should feel insulted, but settled for only scowling.

Carali's brilliantly green eyes had grown sombre. I… I'm growing more and more to like you, Minalea. You're smart, you're pretty… and I know that you'll never allow me a moment's boredom… but I do not trust you when you're out of tail's range.

How about in tail's range? wondered the other aristh softly, raising a hand up to draw a finger curiously over his scalp, just passing his stalks.

Carali seized her wrist and calmly removed it, only to open her hand and place it on his face. When you are in tail's range, it's myself I don't trust. You're… somewhat distracting. But at least here it is easier to keep an eye on you. Easier to keep you under close guard.

Minalea felt her eyes twinkle. Why would that be necessary?

Because you have an innate ability to get into trouble.

And you, Minalea grinned, seem to have an innate ability to follow me into it.

It's a curse, agreed Carali.

A curse?

Albeit one I can learn to live with, Carali corrected, smiling, seeking her gaze and holding it. Then his thought-speech conspiratorially soft. Now then… what's you plan for escaping?

Not yet, Minalea told him, thoughtful. We wait until they've brought us to Dina'amm. Then, at least, we'll have some idea of where we are. And the Animorphs might still be there… if we're lucky. Right now, we're completely lost. If we escape now… not that I think we can –

Why not?

The Kelbrid. His kii-raja. They're a bit too observant for my liking.

So until Dina'amm, we cooperate?

Carali!

What?

Cooperate? ME? Don't be insulting!

Sorry.

Minalea was grinning mischievously – the same grin which, on the Phantom, had told anyone nearby to mind their step. We're not going to successfully escape until Dina'amm. Cooperating is an entirely different matter.

Very well, Carali muttered, adjusting his hands and tail in their fetters, trying to make them more comfortable. Are you going to help me with these?

Perhaps I will, Minalea replied smugly, and perhaps I won't.

Carali sighed heavily.

.

Jeanne yawned. She was playing some sort of shoot-them-up game on the Rachel's computer – against Marco, who was winning and loving it. Jeanne hardly cared. She knew from experience that beating Marco required effort, and led to Marco's most annoying mood, and was hardly worth the trouble.

Rachel was repairing a tunic, with Tom's head on her shoulder to let her easily oversee her work. The kii-raja was not in the mood to let anyone approach – even Jeanne had been met with a row of glistening teeth when she had walked past too close.

Jake was still asleep. Santorelli and his Yeerk were glowering silently in their cage. At least, they seemed silent: growing tired of the Controller's comments, they had made the force field sound proof. Tobias sat staring out into space. It had been Jeanne and Marco who had programmed the computer to search for broadcasts on the channel specified before: 6-dalaf-923-46-talan. It was Tobias who sat and waited for the Andalites to call.

A couple of hours later, the only one who had not moved was Santorelli. He was still glowering. Marco was watching Airplane!, but not laughing. Jeanne sat beside him, sniggering now and again. Rachel, Tom, and Tobias had disappeared back into the ship to deal with some complaint Rachel had had about her fighter. Jake monitored the screens, waiting for Estrid to hail.

When finally someone did hail the Rachel, though, it was not Estrid.

It was a Yeerk craft.

After a moment of thought, Jake commanded: "On screen."

The holographic image of Melissa Chapman appeared over the computer consoles. She looked angry: her eyes were flashing, her face drawn into a snarl, and her posture was menacing.

"Hello, Jake," she gritted, as Jeanne and Marco left their screen to join Jake in front of the hologram.

"Get Rachel," Jake whispered over his shoulder.

Marco gave a curt nod and wandered away, purposefully calm and dignified.

"Pleased to see me?" Melissa continued, her voice as sharp as an Andalite's tail-blade. "Surprised? Thought you'd be rid of me?"

"Melissa, look, we're sorry we had to leave without you –"

"You're sorry, are you?" hissed Melissa. "I suppose that makes it all okay, to you. But no. All I wanted was to go home. Was that so much to ask for? Now I'm still trapped here, and you're just –" She stopped talking and her eyes narrowed, looking past Jake. "Hello, Rachel."

"Hi, Mel," Rachel said. Tom was – as always – beside her, and Tobias rode (to the kii-raja's disgruntlement) on her shoulder.

"So what's your excuse?"

"Excuse? For leaving you behind?" Rachel shook her head, quickly going on with: "No excuse, Mel. We'll come back for you. At least, if Jake knows his own good, we will."

Jake grimaced as Tom glared furiously at him to support his human's words.

"And I'm supposed to believe that?" Melissa raged. "You'd come back, why? You don't need me. Especially not you, Rachel: someone with a kii-raja needs no-one else. But you promised. And you –"

"Melissa –" began Jake.

"Shut up, Jake," interrupted Melissa. "I know when I've been duped. Betrayed. See, I've been betrayed before. My mother betrayed me, my father betrayed me. You betrayed me – twice. Now, and before: you must have known my parents were Controllers. Did you ever do anything to help me? No. Did Rachel ever do anything to help me? No. My best friend, and she did nothing. You'd think I might have learned. But here I am, having trusted you again, having thought you'd get me back home. And at the first opportunity, what do you do? Abandon me. Well, guess what? I'm sick of being betrayed, abandoned, used – by my parents, by Yeerks, or by you. It's going to stop. I'm going to take care of myself, now. And I'm going to make you pay. As soon as the One gets back, guess what I'm going to do? I'm going to tell him about Santorelli."

"What about Santorelli?" wondered Rachel, suddenly cautious, before anyone spoke. She looked annoyed, and had a firm grip on Tom's ear: the kii-raja had bared his teeth.

"I know he's been infested," Melissa said, smiling. "That leopard voluntary couldn't keep his mouth shut when I caught him. He knew I'd kill him. He was about to tell me his mother's favourite colour when I finally did."

Rachel shrugged. "He lied. Santorelli's fine."

"Then show him to me, and prove me wrong."

"He's asleep – he's been up all night, we don't want to wake him. Look, Mel, we'll be back for you in only a few days. We're not going home yet, anyway. So –"

"So I'm supposed to just trust you?" sneered Melissa.

"It wouldn't hurt," Rachel snapped. "I'm your best friend, Mel, and I haven't betrayed you. I deserve a bit of trust."

"Trusting days are over – I'm taking care of things myself," declared Melissa haughtily, her eyes aglow with triumph – or some blend, of triumph and madness. "I'll tell the One about Santorelli – and that he's got a portal right at you. If that information doesn't get me my promotion, nothing will. And if I'm promoted, I'll be able to check out my own fighter and go home."

"Mel –"

But Melissa shook her head. "Goodbye, Rachel."

The communication was cut. Rachel spat a word which made Marco chide something about "language".

"Less than perfect," muttered Jeanne. "We just lost an ally."

"Much of an ally she was," Marco said. "I told you she seemed a bit… desperate. A bit odd in the head."

"She's not odd in the head," Rachel growled, with Tom spinning menacingly at Marco. "She's –"

"She's obsessed with going home. Too obsessed. I mean, everyone needs a hobby, but that girl, she's taken it too far."

Rachel considered it, but found no solid reason to disagree. Out of pure principle, she snarled: "Just shut up, Marco."

What did she mean when she spoke of a portal? asked Tobias.

"Portal?" repeated Rachel.

She said the One now has a portal right at us.

Rachel nodded grimly. "That's right."

"That's right?" Jake repeated.

"'That's right', as in she did say so, or 'that's right', as in that creature does have a portal, or 'that's right' in general?" Marco wanted to know. "'That's right' can mean so many things –"

"Quiet, Marco," snapped Jeanne.

"There's –"

"Quiet."

"But –"

At a gesture from Rachel, Tom let out a snarl which made Marco jump and instantly silence.

"'That's right' as in the One does have a portal," Rachel explained into the ensuing silence. "Guess why I tried to fool Melissa that Santorelli was okay? The One can transport himself through the minds of his Touched. That Yeerk in Santorelli's head is a Touched. The One can appear here any minute… as soon as he finds out what's happened…"

"He'll be behind a force field," said Jake.

"That won't bother him for long," Marco muttered.

"What would happen to Santorelli?" asked Jake.

"Destroyed," Rachel ventured, shrugging. "At least, I think so. I don't know. But if the One appears here… or on Cava'ara."

"We'd have trouble," Jake concluded grimly.

"We can't bring Santorelli to Cava'ara," Rachel warned. "At least not while we're in risk of having the One appear."

We have to hope he doesn't figure it out.

"He won't, not on his own," Rachel said. "He's got too many Touched to care about all of them. This specific Yeerk has no reason to catch his attention – until Melissa opens her big mouth."

"We can't let that happen," Marco said. "We need to stop her."

Rachel nodded, almost sadly. Tom comfortingly pressed his cold nose into her hand.

"Then we need to go back," Jeanne muttered. "And deal with Melissa, before she betrays us… she's probably in the Blade Ship."

Jake nodded. "We can't all go. We need to… get to Cava'ara as soon as possible, to help Santorelli. No, Rachel, listen – the Yeerk dies when we get there, so Cava'ara won't be in danger. Depending on how fast we can get to Melissa."

Rachel considered it, and nodded, relieved.

Jake went on: "And we need to get in touch with Estrid and those arisths… for that, we need the Rachel, for we can't contact the Phantom from the Hawk. Besides, the Rachel can't sneak back to Dina'amm, much less near the Blade ship, they're probably keeping an eye open for it, and we'd be shot down as soon as we're in range. But… the Hawk could." He shook his head sadly to himself. "And to fly the Hawk…"

Tobias's head snapped up, watching him, something in his eyes making him look more fierce and more dangerous than usual. Something mad. Jake did not notice, and instead he sighed heavily, looking very troubled, and took both Rachel's hands in his own. "Rachel," he began, giving her hands a light squeeze. "I'm really, really sorry to ask this of you –"

He was interrupted by a sudden ruffleof feathers and the moment after needle-sharp talons swooped down at his face, a hawk's fierce cry tearing at all ears, but even that was drowned out by Tobias's shrill thought-speech voice; NO! You can't!

"Tobias! Calm down!" Rachel cried, but Tobias was beyond calming. He ripped furiously at Jake's face with beak and talons, seemingly unaware of Jake's attempts to defend himself, unaware of the arms that flayed at him, all while he screeched in thought-speech I won't let you! I won't let you!.

Tom had snapped to instant attention when Tobias had charged but when he saw that the attack was no threat to Rachel or himself he lost interest. He sat back down to watch the fight, in his eyes a mere fight for dominance, and only kept an eye open to see who would win, and whether or not that person would be any threat to his precious human. But Tobias was finally dragged from Jake by Marco and Jeanne, who each grabbed a wing and tore away the maddened hawk. Santorelli laughed dryly and soundlessly from his place behind them all.

Tobias let out an indignant screech, struggling, twisting wildly, trying to get away but simply not being strong or big enough. Even when his beak cut sharply into the hands and arms that held him they refused to let go. He was too angry to remember the possibility of morphing.

"Tobias!" Rachel repeated. "Calm down! NOW!"

The hawk stopped twisting and turned his head to look at her with his fierce gaze. Tom was still beside her, and with his help she managed to turn to meet Tobias's gaze.

Tobias calmed down in a display of will, but he was still shaking when he spoke. I won't let him send you back there. Not to the Blade Ship. Not alone.

"Hey, no-one mentioned going alone…" murmured Marco, but no-one was paying him any attention.

Rachel looked stubborn. "That's my choice."

I won't –

"It's MY choice, Tobias!" Rachel snapped. She saw, through Tom's eyes, how the hawk flinched, looking hurt, and added in a softer voice; "You don't have anything to say about it, Tobias. It's my old friend. I'm the one who trusted her – who was wrong to trust her. I'm the only one here able to fly the Hawk. And I'm going."

I won't let him tell you to go. I… I won't let you go.

Rachel's eyes flashed with sudden anger. Jeanne grimaced mentally, realising that Tobias had struck the wrong cord; Rachel's pride.

"You don't 'let' me anything, Tobias! I decide for myself. If you don't like it, you can try to stop me."

He at once knew the impossibility in that. You can't, it's madness, you'll be killed… But seeing how Rachel's expression grew more and more determined, more and more closed, he switched the subject and said; At least don't go alone…

Rachel's eyes flashed again. "I'm taking Tom."

Tom? Only that – that creature?

Insulting her kii-raja like that was probably not the way to go about it, either: Rachel visibly turned even more stubborn. "I'm going, Tobias. I'm going alone – except for Tom."

Please, Rachel…

But Rachel's face had turned to stone. "Marco? Jeanne? Could you put him back in his quarters? And lock the door."

Marco and Jeanne glanced at Jake, who gave a short, resigned nod.

You were killed once, Rach! Tobias cried, beginning to struggle again as Marco and Jeanne turned to do as Rachel asked. Don't go again! Don't! I won't let you! I won't let you! I… his voice was broken by a line of helpless thought-sobs.

Rachel turned away from him and back to Jake. "I'm going," she announced, her manner cold. "Do you want Melissa dead?"

"Just…" Jake sighed. "just do what you have to, Rachel. Nothing more or less than that. No more blood than necessary."

Rachel nodded and stroked Tom's head thoughtfully, her thoughts hidden in her mind without showing any trace on her face. But then, with Tom sending a glance in the way Tobias had disappeared, she did bite her lip.

"Rachel, if you don't want to…" Jake said finally, softer than Tobias had. "If you think you can't…"

"I'll be fine, Jake," Rachel assured him, as Marco and Jeanne rejoined the group. Tobias had stopped screaming in thought-speech, now locked in his quarters deeper into the ship, but somehow the silence was worse than his wild protests. Rachel looked a bit weary. "I was just thinking… well, for Tobias, of course, but… poor Tom. I always seem to drag him into trouble…"

Jake regarded his cousin, wondering at how quickly she had turned the topic away from Tobias. He knew how much they actually cared for each other – he was surprised that Rachel had not agreed to let Tobias come along. But he knew she had a streak of pride in her that would never budge – around these Kelbrid, it had even grown worse.

"I can go in your place," Jeanne offered. "I think I can fly the Hawk, if I have to."

"You can't. I'm the only one who finds my way around space here in my fighter, since the Hawk's computer can't deal with navigation. That's done on Kelbrid – human – memory." Rachel shook her head determinately. "We've already settled this. This is my fault, and I'm going. And if I'm going, Tom's going, because being left behind would be worse for him than me dragging him to his death." Then she disappeared back into the Rachel to prepare for her departure.

The leader of the Animorphs looked sadly after her. He had recognized the pain on his cousin's face; despite the efforts she made to hide it, she was not happy about arguing with Tobias about this. And she was not happy about having to hurt him, having to leave him again.

"Rachel won't budge," Jake sighed, making a wry face. "And making Tobias come to his senses won't be easy. Jeanne? Could you go talk to him? Try to calm him down a bit. Because Rachel won't. I think she wants to spare them both any painful goodbyes."

Jeanne nodded, and set off down the corridor.

Marco was grinning, in lack of something else to do. "Well, Fearless Leader, it seems you've done it again. For some reason, when you're around, Rachel gets all the fun, reckless, suicidal missions. Not that I'm complaining." The grin disappeared. He frowned down at a cut on his hand, and then looked up at Jake. "Tobias clawed you up pretty badly. You might want to morph."

Jake lifted a hand to his face, and when he brought it down there was blood running along his fingers. He had no feeling in his face, so he was a bit surprised to see it – although just a look at Tobias's talons and the ferocity of his attack should have convinced him otherwise. He grimaced, felt the sharp pain that sent through his injured face, and began morphing.

.

Rachel spent an hour in the Rachel's docking area, muttering and growling about her fighter, preparing it for launch. No-one dared disturb her. When Marco came to ask if she wanted something to eat, he was chased away by a snarling Tom and ran to hide behind Jeanne on the bridge. The kii-raja thereafter had a fit as soon as anyone tried to enter the main shaft, leaving the bridge. Then, people left her alone.

Everyone aside from Tobias, that was. His voice was constantly in the back of her head, pleading, cajoling, demanding. She had no way of telling him to shut up without speaking to him directly. Finally, having had enough, she tip-toed out into the main shaft, and sank down to sit by the foot of the door to Tobias's room.

"I know you can hear me," she murmured. She noted Tom growling at another person who had ventured too close to the entrance to the main shaft, but ignored the beast.

Of course I can hear you, Rachel, and I don't want you to go. It's dangerous. It might as well be a trap. Who'd know what Melissa would do? You didn't see this coming. No-one could blame you if –

"Look," she said, very softly, "I didn't survive this far by being gullible. Maybe… Melissa'd been my best friend for years. I couldn't see her turning on me. I just couldn't. It turns out I was wrong – I made a mistake. And since it was my mistake, I will set it right."

But do you have to go alone –

"I'm taking Tom."

Tobias did not comment. He was silent, for a moment. Then: I never got past the first time, Rachel, and I'd be damned if I let you go off on some suicidal mission a second time. You're not going. You're not going.

Rachel leaned her forehead against the door and closed her eyes. "Yes, I am," she whispered. In the background, Tom's growling was fading, and soon the beast came to rest beside Rachel, still staring suspiciously out towards the bridge.

Rachel, you can't –

"Don't ever tell me what I can or can't do, Tobias," Rachel interrupted in a sharp hiss. "Don't –"

But you'll die.

"They'll have to pass Tom first," Rachel pointed out, resting a trusting hand on her kii-raja's golden head.

And when they do?

"They won't," snapped Rachel, flying back to her feet. "They won't. I'm sick of this, Tobias – I can take care of myself. And if I can't, I've got Tom. Tom's a part of me, and I trust him. Why can't you just do the same?!"

Rach –

"And stay out of my head, I can hardly hear myself think with your whining!" Rachel slammed a fist at the door, before turning on a heel and stalking back towards the docking area. Behind her, Tom began snarling again.

Rachel had barely reassumed her work on her fighter when she was interrupted: Jake called to her in thought-speech, asking her to control her pet, so they could safely fetch food from the storages.

Rachel told the beast to heel. Tom did. He followed his human as if glued to her side when she emerged from the docking area and sat down on the bridge to eat. Tom, being very angry and very protective, twice charged Jake as Jake tried and tried again to pass Rachel a jar of water, to drink. The second time, Rachel grasped Tom's ear and hauled him – whining unhappily – off, down into the main shaft.

"What's with the monster?" Marco asked the universe in general.

"Rachel's in a bad mood," Jeanne said with a shrug. "Tom knows it – and is multiplying it by ten for himself."

They heard a door in the corridor buzz open. Marco leaned back, to catch a glimpse of Rachel ushering her kii-raja into a room and closing the door behind him. A heart-wrenching howl followed.

"Shut up!" ordered Rachel sharply. "And…" She staggered, fell and collapsed against the wall behind her, clutching her temples, digging her fingers into her scalp. "…get out of my head. Both of you. OUT!"

Jake and Marco exchanged a look.

"Yeerk?" Marco ventured.

"Nah," Jake replied. "Tom."

"And Tobias, then."

Jake nodded.

"All in all, a splitting headache," Jeanne concluded, standing up. "By the way, did anyone feed the Controller?"

"Eh… nope."

"Then do so. I'll take care of Rachel." She started off towards the blind girl, over her shoulder adding: "And feed the bird."

Jake and Marco exchanged another look.

"He'll rip my face off if I get too close," Jake predicted.

"Rather yours than mine."

"He doesn't hate you."

"You mean, he doesn't hate me, as far as we know."

"Marco?"

"Yes, of Fearless and Wonderful Leader? Did I mention Fearless?"

"I feed the Controller. You feed the bird."

"Alas, not Fearless then: a coward."

"Feed. The. Bi–"

Marco threw his hands up in resignation. "All right, all right, I will."

.

"Are you hungry?" Marco asked the hawk. He carried a platter of food sorts more familiar to humans and hawks than pata'oki.

No, came the reply, from a Tobias perched as high as the room would allow: on the edge of the top bunk, in the two-bunk bed cut out of the wall.

"Thirsty?"

No. There was a short silence, before: Has Rachel left?

"No."

Marco… remember when I helped you with your father?

"Yes. So?" Marco stared at the hawk, trying to read his expression – and failing.

So you owe me one.

"You're not going to make me do something I know better than to do, are you?" Marco wondered suspiciously.

Do you want her to die? Again?

There was no need to ask who Tobias was referring to. His thought-voice was sharp as the cutting edge of a razor, and bitter enough to give Marco a bad taste in his mouth.

"Of course not," Marco said at once. "But… I don't think she will. This time, she's got that… that –"

Creature. You trust that thing?

"No," the human Animorph admitted. "But I trust it to look after Rachel."

Tom's a dumb beast, nothing more. A large dog. He can make a mistake. I'm not asking for much: just let me out of this cell and tell no-one. I'll look after Rachel, then, and bother no-one. Not even Jake – although he deserves it.

"Let you out? Jake would –"

Screw Jake – he's an idiot. The first time was bad enough, but twice? He sends her to the Blade Ship, alone, twice? You'd almost think he wanted Rachel dead. Screw him. Tobias's golden gaze locked onto Marco, accusing and fierce. Let me out. I have a plan.

"Why doesn't that make me feel better?" muttered Marco. He sighed. "Look, are you hungry or not?"

Marco. If she dies, and she probably will –

"Rachel can take care of herself."

Tobias was silent for a moment. Yeah, he agreed finally. She can. But she could 'take care of herself' the first time she went to the Blade Ship, too. She's worse off, now. First of all, she's blind. Secondly, she can't morph.

With a fraction of a millimetre, Marco's eyes narrowed. "She's got Tom. She'll be fine. Don't worry."

Just let me out, and I'll make sure she's fine. If you don't, and she dies, can you live with it? Can you live thinking that you could have opened that door, could have let me out, and that might have saved her? Can you live with another Animorph's death on your conscience? Jake couldn't.

"I'm more cold-blooded than Jake."

It's on your shoulders, Tobias went on. Rachel dies, and you'll be just as much to blame as Jake. So just… open that door.

Marco, having deposited the food on the table set into the wall opposite the bunks, glanced at the hawk.

You owe me, Marco. And I know you don't want Rachel to die. You don't want her to die any more than I do. And you're protective, Marco; I've seen it. You'd feel much better if you knew someone was keeping an eye on Rachel – someone with more brains than that walking golden growl. Listen to me. Tobias's voice was like a desperate whip, making the human Animorph grimace as it struck his mind. She can't even morph.

Marco thought for a moment. His glance turned slowly into a scowl. "Damn you, bird boy," he snapped finally, feeling trapped. "Fine. Fine, then. What's this plan of yours?"

.

.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Author's Note:

Hello. If there are any errors in this, tell me, and be warned: it's not proofread. I don't have time to proofread it right now, but I thought I'd post it anyway.

So enjoy.

I'm not making any predictions for the next one, though. But to all of you who don't read anything not about the Animorphs themselves, I certainly hope you read the parts about Serfar-Arethan-Carnin and Ashley in the next one. It's important.