A/N: Hey Ladies and Gents! I know I know, Two Chapters in one week! I'm going to give myself a heart attack! I told my mom earlier I wasn't feeling all that well… ;) You will all be pleased to know that Thursday night, I wrote from chapter 9-13 :D. I'm finally at all the 'good stuff' (well, kinda…) but we're getting this rolling! I'm hoping to write another chapter or 2 tonight and who knows. Maybe we'll see another chapter tomorrow or the next day…making it a record of 3 chapters in a week! (hears a collective gasp) :D I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Also, a slight fact, if you make it through this chapter (without all my a/n's of babble, you will have read 17 typed pages in size 12 times new roman font) So I congratulate you for putting up with me so far, though a lot more is to come…hopefully no one will loose interest…

On another note: I saw Fantastic Four Today (too many good movies are coming out this summer, let me tell ya…) and it was, as my friend stated, Fantastic! A bit drawn out, but they did a good job over all. Well, onto the story and if you all review like mad men or women, the chances of seeing another chapter this week will be higher. :D Enjoy!

Chapter 9

Tobias

I spent my day watching our entrance while the others were at school. There wasn't much activity going on. Just some controllers manning the construction process. The dead air and lack of thermals made keeping watch a lot harder than it should have been.

I caught the glimpse of a businessman's Timex and noted I had to leave to meet the others on time. I tilted my wings and turned in the opposite direction towards Cassie's barn.

They day would have gone by faster had I brought Ax with me to keep myself some company. We haven't really talked much since I told him about my father being his brother. I didn't want to tell the others until the information sunk in to Ax. I realized how much I missed my friend now that we didn't talk as much.

As I flew over the school, I saw Rachel leaving, her arms empty which meant she let all her homework in her locker to get later. Her golden blonde hair shone in the sunlight and she looked as beautiful as ever in a pair of old jeans that were slightly warn and a sports jersey of some kind. I think it was basketball, but I could be wrong. I was never that into sports when I was human.

((Hey, if you go about 2 blocks to the left and hang a right, you'll be clear to morph.)) I told her. She moved her fingers slightly and tilted her head a fraction of an inch so no one but me would notice it. She followed my directions and soon a bald eagle came soaring up where a human girl once stood.

((Hey Tobias!)) She greeted me.

((Hey.)) I said as she flew towards me. ((Don't get much closer! We're not humans. Birds of prey don't flock together! Even if they're the same species.)) I snapped, maybe a bit too harshly at her. Rachel didn't say anything, but I saw her adjust her path more to the left of me.

((Sorry.))She finally muttered.

((I didn't mean to snap.))

((It's fine. You're right.)) She said and was silent once more. I wanted to sight. If I had been human, I probably would have. Birds don't sigh like Humans do.

We flew the rest of the way to Cassie's barn in silence, with me wondering why I had to constantly mess my own life up. I took my usual place in the rafters as Rachel landed and demorphed. Cassie was already tending to injured animals-changing their bandages and such. Jake and Marco flew in after Rachel had finished demorphing and Ax walked in after them.

I noted how Rachel wouldn't look directly at me and how Ax seemed slightly uncomfortable. Then again, it could have been the human morph. I don't think it was though. I somehow managed to push away the only people who really gave a damn about me.

Sure, Jake has become my friend and Cassie…well, she's Cassie and cares about everyone. Marco…I don't know. I haven't figured him out yet. I think I scare him too much to even be considered more than a casual friend. If that even. But Rachel, she loves me. She cares about me and worries about me even though I tell her not to. Ax is probably the closest thing I've ever had to a best friend. We're both outcasts in our own strange way of this group. He being the only resident alien and myself being the freak of nature that I became.

"Tobias?" Cassie said, looking up at me a concerned expression on his face.

((Hu?)) I asked, snapping myself out of my thoughts and shoving them from my mind. Now is not the time to be self, pitying Tobias! I yelled at myself.

"I asked you if our entrance to the pool was a go." Jake stated, looking annoyed he had to repeat himself again.

"Bird-boy was too busy day-dreaming about Xena." Marco joked. Rachel sent him an icy glare and I just ignored his comments. I was used to Marco's jibes by now. After all, he was kind of right.

((Yeah, as long as the Yeerks haven't made much more progress in the hour we've been here, we should be fine.)) I answered, pushing back images of being trapped in the Yeerk Pool. I did not want to think about that. Ever. It seemed every time the Yeerk pool was mentioned, I could hear the endless hours of screams-both human and alien-echoing in my mind. The others thought they had nightmares? They hadn't seen what I did. No one could ever understand unless they were there. You can draw up the image of humans and Hork Bajir being locked in huge cages, screaming, begging for someone to save them from their fate though they know that it is useless to have too much hope. You might be able to imagine the picture if you let your imagination go wild. But you can't draw up the screams. You can't visualize the reality no matter how hard you try. And now? Now we're going back down there, again. Back to the place where Hell resides on Earth.

Jake asked if everyone was ready. I said yes when I really thought never in a million years. I heard Rachel say "let's do it" in the usual way she does, though to me, it sounded more hesitant. The others morphed to bird and we flew out of the barn and towards the 7-11, the whole way, the screams in my mind got louder and clearer each time I tried to push them away.

Thanks to rockergurl13(I do Rachel well because I can identify with pieces of her personality; Along with Tobias and Marco. Unfortunately, that means the chapters will mostly be written in their p.o.v.'s. Glad you enjoy) and GenesisDragon(I try to write action…usually doesn't come out as I picture it, but I try. There'll be some adventures later though, that I can promise.)

Again, I'd like to say, if you wish to see another chapter sooner, please leave a contribution in the little box. (sorry, having a labyrinth flashback…)But you all get the idea. REVIEW!