A/N: YAY! So glad you all like this:D I am currently handwriting chapter 25 so it looks like this story will be between 30 and 40 chapters. Who knows, maybe longer. I still have lots more to go, and hopefully, the creative juices will keep flowing. I just ask that everyone remain patient. I am so happy with the reviews I have been receiving. I only expected one or two; I really didn't think there were that many Animorph fans still reading fanfics! So, yay! It's a pleasant surprise.

On another note, I wanted to state that the whole thing with Rachel and Her mom in the previous chapter, was just my way of adding some light humor into a dark moment of the story (I'm a lot like Marco in that respect). No I do not think Rachel is having sex with Jake, that is just, as Rachel put it "Ew! Ew! Ew!" I just wanted to make that clear! I am A R/T and J/C shipper, this story will reflect that. I thought it would also be nice to show that her mom did notice Rachel's odd coming and goings, and that was my way of doing it, I know from experience, parents always assume the worst, and that was my take on Rachel's mom. We did learn later that she was rather…dense about some things…so yeah, there we go. Enough about R/J ((shudders uncontrollably)) And onto the story!

Chapter 14

Tobias

Pain. Pain in my wing that seemed to explode throughout my body. I could feel it as soon as my mind slowly began it's trek back from the darkness. I couldn't remember what happened or where I was. All I knew was the pain, pain that seemed to cut through me like a knife. Consuming pain that could not leave my mind no matter how hard I tried not to think of it. It always made it's presence known by a throb in my wing that echoed through my body. I let out a groan.

I pried my eyes open and let them adjust to the lighting. When I could finally see properly, I glanced around uncomfortably. I knew I had to morph, but I couldn't. Controllers could be anywhere, even if they were not in this very room, they could be watching. I couldn't risk it. I also don't think I could have concentrated enough to morph if I put my whole mind into it.

I now realized that my wing was bandaged. The bandage was stained the crimson color of blood, but it was repaired all the same. I knew this was odd. It immediately got small doses of adrenaline into my system and made me more alert. Controllers did not want us alive, for long, that much was made clear in the past. Why would they go through the time and energy to repair my messed up wing. It did not make any sense, no matter how hard I tried to think about it. Least they could have done was given me a pain killer, I thought as I tried to keep my mind on the tasks at hand.

I finished studying the room. It was more or lessly empty, the walls ceiling, and floor a sterile white. The only thing off setting the white was myself, and the blue Andalite that lay sprawled out on the floor about 5 feet next to me who was seemingly unconscious as I had been moments before.

((Ax?)) I called, trying to work through my muddled mind.

Think Tobias! We were in the Yeerk pool…oh, the pain. I mentally shook my head to clear it and pushed the thoughts of pain and tried harder than ever to ignore the feeling it shot through my wing. Don't think about it. Think about how you got here. Come on Tobias, you remember…I coached myself, trying to work the memories to my consciousness with little success. I remembered getting into the Yeerk pool and seeing the others battling. Battle images flashed through my mind, A tiger roaring as it slashed, a grizzly bear charging, a wolf running towards me, A flash of blue fur, and then the hork bajir that cut me and Cassie…the wolf…she picked me up, I think…That's when my memory gets sketchy and broken up like watching a satellite TV during a big storm, or so I hear, the picture comes in but it's all static-y and sometimes doesn't stay clear long.

Ax moved slightly.

((Ax?)) I called again, hoping he'd wake up and fill me in on how we got into this mess.

((Tobias?)) Ax said, his voice sounding weak. I saw his emerald eyes open and blink over at me. Ax seemed to get his bearings and pulled his sprawled legs under him and stood up in one semi-fluid motion. He tested his tail and each of his limbs before turning his attention back to me.

((You are hurt.)) He said, looking at my bandaged wing.

((Yeah, I know. The Yeerks must have bandaged me up, but I can't morph. The Visser and the yeerks would know I'm different then.))

((Yes, that would be a problem…)) Ax trailed off, his eyes frowned slightly and he studied me for a moment.

((What?)) I asked, feeling slightly subconscious.

((I have a theory.)) Ax stated. I kept looking at him to go on, hoping his explanation would be fairly simple. I don't think I could handle any in-depth thinking at the moment. ((You know how you can manipulate the DNA of a morph?))

((No…)) Ax rolled his main eyes, a habit he picked up from human.

((How do you think I melted the DNA of Rachel, Marco, Cassie, and Prince Jake to create my human morph?))

((I never really thought about it.)) I admitted.

((Humans,)) Ax said and I could picture him shaking his head at me in exasperation. ((In SIMPLE terms, you can manipulate the genetic coding of DNA. You can't turn a tiger into a bear or what not, but you can change the tigers own DNA pattern within reason. For example, you could change the size, the age you morph, gender, fur length, color, anything that is determined by DNA you can determine yourself, within the limits of the genetic coding.)) My head was beginning to hurt, but what he said made sense.

((So, you're saying you can effect a morph?))

((Yes, in a way. A genetic copy is only the beginning of the morphing technology. I thought you humans knew…as you have never asked questions.))

((I don't think we ever gave it any thought.)) Ax tisked, which was an odd coming from in my head.

((Onto my theory. You are my brothers son, you said he trapped himself in a human morph? My theory is when you morph, you have the animal DNA, of course, but you also have your original DNA pattern, at least some of it, to change back. Even nothlits have to have SOME of their original DNA, because even with the time limit, their DNA would still be there to some extent, but not enough of it to change back.))

((So, you're saying that…))

((If my understanding of biology and my theory is correct, then you carry some of Elphangor's DNA when he was an Andalite and a human.)) Ax finished.

((So, you're saying I should try and))

((Oh no! You can't morph Elphangor! Visser Three knows his image too well. No, you need to manipulate the DNA. You need to blend it. It works better with multiple species, but since we're lacking in Andalites on Earth…)) I think Ax was attempting a Marco kind of joke.

((Whoa, you're saying that you want me to))

((Yes, I want you to acquire me and build your own Andalite morph based off of my brother and myself.)) Ax concluded. I was silent. So was Ax. I don't know if it was my pain filled mind or Ax's suggestion, but it just made me feel overwhelmed.

((You need to morph out. What better way than to trick the Visser. Make him believe he really does have two Andalite bandits.))

((Ax..))

It takes concentration. I know you can do it Tobias. I have faith in you. Ax said and I gave in. I had to try. I really was useless as I was and the Yeerks would get suspicious if I didn't morph out.

((OK, I'll do it)) I said finally. Ax picked me up and placed me on his shoulder. I was careful not to dig my talons into his shoulder too far and I concentrated. I felt Ax go slack in the trance that comes from acquiring one's DNA. I finished acquiring and when Ax snapped out of his trance, he took me off his shoulder and placed me back down.

((Now picture Elphangor and myself in your mind. Picture the differences, the similarities but picture the differences and the similarities into one picture. If it is easier, picture him and me next to each other. Visualize every detail you can remember. Concentrate on it, focus on the differences, and merge the images together. Hold what you see and concentrate on the merging. I do want to state, you may want to keep yourself younger. If you go older than myself, the Visser will think you are of a higher rank and will more likely enslave you. Once you have your picture, concentrate and change. Don't think of one of us, but of both.)) Ax instructed. He stayed silent so I could do as he suggested.

I brought the image of Elphangor into my mind. It was an image I couldn't forget. I pictured him as I always thought he would look had he not been injured that night. I saw him standing tall and proud next to his younger brother in our meadow. I focused as Ax had told me to, and I carefully merged the picture, making slight adjustments so the Andalite in my mind did not look off kilter and awkward. As I concentrated, I felt the changes begin.

End Note: I want to state that Ax's theory is my own theory. I realized that KAA never really answered the question to how Ax was able to get his human morph so I kinda took the liberty to explain it in my own way. I also know that Tobias morphs Ax later and gains his andalite morph that way, but I feel this way is more interesting and it works for my story, so if you don't like it, too bad. ;) If I did not explain the theory enough, please state so in the reviews and I'll try to answer any questions, but please note, I am not going to give anyone a biology lesson on shared chromosomes and such. I'm not going to go there, but if you feel I was unclear about my explanation, please ask, I'll try to clear it up to the best of my ability. It's hard for me to word it so people will understand when I understand it so well…so please, if you have any questions, feel free to ask, I know I can sometimes be very vague or explain things in a weird way.

Thank you to: MercuryMoon, Purpleroze, rockergurl13, CASSIE101, and GenesisDragon for the reviews. I look forward to reviews and they are what keeps me motivated, so many thanks.