DISCLAIMER: See Ch. 1.
A/N: Finally, we get to see something from the POV of my favorite major character: Ax! I have all the books narrated by him, and of them all, I think The Decision is my favorite one.
IMPORTANT NOTE: There is a slightly altered reference to The Lord of the Rings and J.R.R. Tolkien in this chapter… can you find it?
This chapter is dedicated to walkatdog, for being such a darn loyal and overall great reviewer! Also, be sure to check out his cool story, "An Unorthodox History"!
CHAPTER 6
Aximili
Finally, I saw what these Kelbrid looked like. I felt the need to go up and thank them once again for helping me and my friends, but I knew that now was not the time nor the place, so I would wait for later to do that.
I stood alongside my fellow Andalite officers, in an area near where ambassadors from different Earth countries sat. Jake and the other former Animorphs were in another small section of their own, which also included the Hork-Bajir seer, Toby Hamee (the namesake for my shorm, in case you haven't already guessed). Toby was sitting there on behalf of the Hork-Bajir colony on Earth (after the war, the American government had allowed her and the other free Hork-Bajir to settle in Yellowstone National Park).
After the incident with the Intrepid, and how I essentially violated some sort of unwritten protocol by leading the boarding party instead of staying on the bridge, I had been transferred to being in charge of fighter pilots. Actually, this was something of a blessing in disguise, since I had never really wanted to be the captain of a Dome ship, anyway; but when you are in the Andalite military and they assign you a position, you don't refuse it.
Actually, I had still wanted to be a fighter pilot, even after the Andalite defeat at Earth which took the life of my brother Elfangor and so many other noble warriors. I guess, in some sort of way, I still wanted to be a fighter pilot and prove myself to Elfangor, even if he was no longer alive to witness it for himself.
Of course, Elfangor's death had a serious impact on my family. On the surface, my parents went through the motions and acted as they should in Andalite society. Deep down, however, they were in such a deep state of mourning that they spent most of their time outside their jobs grieving for my brother and hoping that I wouldn't suffer the same fate as this far-off planet named Earth, which I was currently marooned on.
Personally, I think Earth only may have served as an unpleasant reminder of Elfangor's death and my own situation. As one such example, my mother, who was a scientist specializing in xenobiology, would happily study the unique life on any other planet except for Earth. (This in itself seemed a little out of place, since practically every single Andalite xenobiologist at that time would have pranced with happiness at the opportunity to study Earth's seemingly endless supply of life forms… although, come to think of it, plenty of them still do.) In fact, my parents actually turned down the opportunity to come visit me on Earth, hoping instead for me to come back home and be reunited with them on the home world.
The conversation I had with my parents when I first returned to my planet is one which I will probably never forget…
The portal opened, and I stepped off the transport ship and walked down the ramp. The home world which I had not seen for more than three years was beckoning me to return and be at home and at peace. The sun glowed overhead in the red and gold sky, and beyond the boundaries of the spaceport, large fields of colorful grasses stretched beyond the horizon. It seemed so familiar and yet so alien, both at the same time. Perhaps my duration on Earth affected more than I had previously thought it would.
A big crowd of Andalite citizens had gathered to welcome home their friends and family members. However, as I passed, I could hear much of their not-so-discrete thought-speech.
(It's Aximili… Elfangor's brother…)
(The one who survived on that planet Earth for years?)
(He fought alongside a small resistance of humans that encountered him…)
(I heard he has acquired countless strange and powerful Earth creatures…)
(My cousin is in the military… he says Aximili single-handedly helped is in our victory at Leera!)
I had dreamed of being a hero for so long… I just never imagined, even in my wildest dreams, that I would become one the way I did. But, as the human saying goes, "Be careful what you wish for."
I waited for the cargo to be unloaded, and once it was, I maneuvered my way through with an Andalite storage box filled with my few possessions which I had acquired during my time on Earth: My World Almanac, my picture of a cinnabon, my television set (what little use it would be here on the home world!), and various human computer devices which I had bought.
I took a transport to the general area where my scoop was, and made my way from there. I happily galloped back across the open fields to my family's scoop, which for the most part looked just as how I remembered it.
My parents were grazing outside when my father spotted me coming with one of his stalk eyes. (Aximili-kala?)
(Yes, Father. It is your son, Aximili.) After carefully setting the storage container aside, I trotted up to them. I greeted both my parents as I should have, and after which, we talked in more relaxed tones. I told them how, yes, I helped in our victory at Leera, and how I helped with the destruction of the Yeerk Empire at Earth. (Part of me didn't want to consider the events at Earth to be an Andalite victory, because of how close they came to putting it under "Quarantine.")
I think my parents were just as proud of me as they were of Elfangor (and even then, parents of any species shouldn't have to play favorites with their offspring), because of how bravely and valiantly I fought to help save not just one, but two alien races, possibly more. By the time I had finished telling them of my greater accomplishments, they praised me with their accolades on how I had done my duty and had made them proud.
(Aximili,) my father said in a more serious tone, (Not long after the victory at Earth, a record of Elfangor's hirac delest found its way into my workplace. It talked about many unusual things…)
(Such as his human son?) I said without thinking.
Both of them flinched a little, and then my father continued. (Yes, but how did you know…?)
(Tobias… Elfangor's son… he found a last will and testament that was placed in the care of a human lawyer. I would suppose that the Ellimist allowed it.)
(You met the Ellimist?) my mother asked with something akin to awe in her voice.
(On occasion, yes. Why, how do you know of him?)
(You may want to hear this for yourself,) my father said, presenting me with the disc which held my brother's final statement.
I listened to it, shocked and entranced. Hours later, when it was all done, I could stand there, stunned as I looked at the record of my brother's hirac delest. So many things Elfangor did not tell me… then again, part of me couldn't blame him for omitting certain details of his adventures.
(Well, that certainly explains a lot of things,) I finally said, albeit lamely, and for a better choice of words.
(I may not approve of all the actions Elfangor made, even though I could understand them… I realize that he had not always served the military flawlessly, but more good came out of it than harm… it's just a lot to accept,) my father said.
(I understand what it is you are trying to say,) I said carefully. (Speaking of Elfangor's journeys… why didn't you come to Earth so you could see me and Tobias? I'm sure both of you would have had plenty of influence to arrange such a trip.)
Both my parents acted strangely, as though trying to come up with some sort of excuse. When none was forthcoming, I tried to change the subject.
(So, Mother… how are your xeno-biology studies coming along?)
(Oh, perfectly fine, Aximili. Same as always.)
(I was talking with other people, since I am now liaison with the people of Earth. They said they were looking forward to learning about Earth's countless variety of creatures,) I said conversationally. (Will you be joining them?)
(Oh no, Aximili, there are already plenty of other xeno-biologists looking forward to that. I am more interested in Leera; someone has to still keep studying the other planets in the galaxy, after all,) she said in a not-very-convincing way.
Wait a minute. "Plenty of other xeno-biologists"? That didn't sound right at all. I had met my mother's xeno-biologist friends on occasion, and some of them even swore that they would even part with their stalks just to spend so much as a week on such a planet with such biological diversity.
(Mother, I –)
(FOR ELLIMIST'S SAKE, AXIMILI!) Father yelled suddenly, causing both my mother and I to jump a clear meter off the ground. (MAYBE WE DO NOT WANT TO HEAR ANYMORE ABOUT THAT CURSED PLANET!)
After a moment of shocked silence, I quietly said, (I was only going to ask Mother about her studies on Leeran biology.)
In an instant, my father went from being pumped-up and primed for an argument to looking downright embarrassed.
I felt a small headache coming on, and then I excused myself. (I need to go for a walk… before I say something I might regret later on.)
The meaning was clear to me: My parents were almost afraid of going to Earth, lest they be reminded of Elfangor's death.
Additionally, they would have loved to meet their only grandchild, but they were almost afraid that Elfangor's running-away and settling down to start a human family could be seen as dishonorable and shameful. They had their own unique ideals, but were afraid of suffering those from everyone else in Andalite society.
Later, when I had returned to my family's scoop, unspoken apologies and forgiveness were exchanged. From there, my family did its best to continue on peacefully.
Presently, as the human ambassadors continued to exchange questions and answers with the Kelbrid Ambassador Saventi, my mind thought back to the hearing which took place a few days after my return, which nearly resulted in my professional suicide…
My parents and I took a transport to the War Council building, where I would tell of certain exploits on Earth… especially those that pertained to other Andalites.
I have seen various examples of human architecture, including those places designed for judicial affairs, and this place reminded of hardly any such examples. In fact, with its rounded walls, domed roof and hole in the center which allowed sunlight and rain to come through, it reminded me of the famous human structure known as the Pantheon.
Both the prosecutor and myself stood in a patch of the grassy floor, which when combined with the sunlight streaming in from overheard, made the scene look almost symbolic, in a way. The whole purpose of this session was just to get some facts straightened out.
The session started, and I answered the basic question of who I was, and what I had done. In order to make things easier, I volunteered to show my memories. I showed the memory of how I survived the destruction of the Dome ship, and how I first met those humans who had been given the power to morph by my brother Elfangor.
My memory then jumped to when I had unintentionally enabled the work of Marco's father to make the leap to using z-space technology. I showed how I programmed the satellite dish to contact the Andalite home world… how I told Head of Council Lirem of the situation on Earth, and how he told me to take the blame for it… how the Yeerk named Eslin 359 confronted me with his offer to do away with Visser Three for good… how the assassination attempt failed and I talked briefly with a Yeerk-less Alloran… how I explained the concept of Seerow's Kindess to the Animorphs… how I contacted the home world one last time before I disabled it for good…
(ENOUGH!) Lirem shouted, terminating the memory dump. He was obviously furious.
(You didn't tell me that these human "friends" of yours had to morph into aquatic creatures in order to find and rescue you from the Dome under the ocean,) he said almost accusingly.
(I gave a basic report without details, as I should have,) I said calmly in my defense. (And I obeyed your instructions to take the blame for breaking the law of Seerow's Kindness, lest I blacken Elfangor's reputation.)
Lirem spluttered and looked about ready to shout something else, but he knew better than to do so in front of his fellow members of the War Council.
Here the Council called for a break in order to decide this conflict between Lirem and myself, before things really got out of hand. When they returned several minutes later, their decision was that I was absolved of any guilt for breaking the law. Elfangor had indeed given these five young humans the power to morph, and even though I had pushed human science ahead without even realizing it at the time, I did my duty as an Andalite aristh and destroyed the technology afterwards. As for Lirem, since he was only trying to protect Elfangor's reputation in order to keep up Andalite morale. In the end, it was basically a compromise, and both Lirem and myself were absolved of any true guilt.
From there, I showed my memory of my bizarre adventure on Leera. What had started as a mission to acquire a human government official's DNA by means of a blood-sucking creature resulted in winding up in z-space, only to get transferred to Leera from there. I showed them of Samilin's betrayal, and how the Animorphs and I fought our way towards our goal, even as we vanished, one by one.
After that was finished, each member of the Council had a mix of expressions on their faces: Shock, anger, awe…
(After these events, we investigated into Samilin's actions,) Lirem said. (Owing to the lack of any sort of portable Kandrona on the ship, we can only conclude that Samilin… betrayed the People of his own accord.)
It must have really hurt, to have to say that. Then again, it was not as though I could blame Lirem for that…
(You and these Animorphs unwittingly made a scientific breakthrough that day,) Lirem continued. (Did you ever have that sort of problem since then, with residual flux fields?)
(No, sir. That was the only occasion where such a thing happened.)
(Ever since then, our scientists have been trying to figure out what only caused such an event to happen on that particular occasion. You say you and the others morphed these blood-sucking insects, these mosquitoes, in order to draw the blood of an injured government official and use that to morph?)
(Yes, sir. That was the plan.)
(I will allow Professor Sujak to explain his theory.)
A scholarly-looking male Andalite stepped forward. (As we all know, most of Prince Aximili's mass was in z-space while he was in morph, just as the morphing technology should work. However, he applied some strain to his power to morph as he was focusing on collecting the human's blood for that purpose, since one with the morphing technology can only acquire morphs in his or her true base form. That pushed the limits of his power to morph, causing the residual flux field effect. This would certainly explain while this peculiar incident only happened that one time, both for you and your friends. Theoretically, the insect morph could still be used for surveillance purposes, but I would not advise using it again to acquire the DNA of other creatures.)
(Thank you, Professor Sujak. That will be all. )
The professor bowed and then left.
From there, I showed of the suicide mission consisting of only four Andalites, and what became of that. After those memories were seen, the War Council looked quite uneasy, knowing it had failed – and also because I had something to do with that failure.
(Why did you interfere, Prince Aximili?) Lirem inquired not-so-nicely.
(With all due respect, War-Prince, I thought it would be obvious: After the desperate acts that were done on all those years ago on the Hork-Bajir world, could I allow history to repeat itself on Earth?)
I do not mean to sound vindictive when I say this, but I had Lirem cornered, and he knew it. By pointing out the past atrocity of the quantum virus used to kill off the Hork-Bajir as an example against his argument of using this anti-Yeerk virus which had a good chance of wiping out the human race as well, I made him look hypocritical.
Finally, Lirem's already-waning patience had snapped. (How dare you, Prince Aximili! How dare you undermine authority from the highest levels of the Andalite government and military! We give orders so our warriors can carry them out, not question and debate about them! You nearly risked everything! You could have left the entire galaxy wide open for the Yeerks to take over! Maybe even give them enough power to push into other galaxies! With Earth's population of over six billion humans and its excellent resources, the Yeerks would have been able to do that, you know!)
The rest of the Council looked thoroughly startled at Lirem's outburst. I could not say that I blamed them.
(But did we lose at Earth, War-Prince?) I asked with as much sincerity as I could must, trying with all my might to keep the anger out of my voice. In the beginning, I had had respect for Lirem, as I should have, but now my respect was just as quickly waning as his patience.
But deeper down, I could see what embittered him: After countless years of fighting, battles fought and warriors lost, a small, inexperienced group of human youths managed to bring down the Yeerk Empire, wherein the Andalite race had failed. But beyond his wounded pride, I could sense some other private reasons for wanting to have fought at Earth… but what?
However, I still was quite angry at Lirem's hypocrisy at all of this. I almost wish I could have morphed a human right there, so I could grit my teeth, clench my fists, and maybe even yell at him at the top of my lungs…
(No, we did not, Prince Aximili, but even still… )
(Even still, we could argue about it until the end of time, but the point is still moot!) I said sharply, cutting him off. There was a sharp collective intake of breath, and out of the corner of one of my stalk eyes, I could see my parents looking thoroughly shocked, but I didn't regret my actions as I should have; instead, I merely plowed on, all my thoughts and feelings bursting forth. (What's done is done. The human resistance helped us win at Earth, finally bringing down at the Yeerk Empire. We helped them, and they helped us. But that's not all… we also got help from Hork-Bajir whom we freed, free Taxxons led by a nothlit known as Warrior Arbron, and we even got help from some rebel Yeerks who didn't like how their species was marauding through the galaxy and only wanted peace! I feel I can safely say that with the exception of myself and my brother Elfangor, not to mention all those aforementioned smaller groups, the Andalite people hardly did anything to help Earth! You say that it would have been intolerable if the Yeerks took Earth, and yet there was always some other conflict to run off to instead of Earth! If it would have been intolerable to let the Yeerks have Earth, then why have placed it under quarantine, which is tantamount to handing it over to the Yeerks? The Yeerk-Human axis would have pushed beyond Earth, like as you just said yourself! Even after that, you came within mere hours of wiping out Earth!)
I had crossed so many lines in my rant, and I knew it. Lirem was shooting me a look so poisonous I was surprised that I was still alive and on all four hooves. (The Andalite people has the right to do what it must in order to defend itself against the Yeerks or any other threats… you, as a warrior, should know that, Aximili.)
(Even if it means wiping out every other innocent race in the galaxy? The Andalite people whom I pledged my loyalty to were not supposed to go releasing viruses and destroying entire worlds in order to deprive the Yeerks of innocent people to enslave! The Andalite people whom I serve are not supposed to decide the fates of other races as though they were the Ellimists themselves! The Andalite people whom I am a part of are not supposed to be allowed to forgo their honor and morals just because they have such powerful spaceships, weapons and forces!)
(Oh, and I suppose you'll next be telling us how we should do away with the law of Seerow's Kindness and just hand over some technology to the humans, nevermind the fact we just won the war with the Yeerks?) Lirem shot back rather arrogantly. (Maybe that's why the Yeerks failed at Earth; because they met their match with the humans instead!)
(THE HUMANS ARE NOT YEERKS!) I yelled as loud as I could, now absolutely enraged on my friends' behalf. (And to compare me to Seerow would be a poor example. Seerow just freely gave the Yeerks technology among other things out of foolish sympathy; I merely assisted the Animorphs in telling them what they needed to know out of the necessity to win! Just because the Yeerks lied to us and betrayed us, that does not mean that all other less-sentient species are like those slugs!)
(Rest assured, Aximili, that even if we do open up friendly relations with the humans, we will not let them have so much to control.)
I could tell what Lirem really meant: He wanted some leverage over the human race in order to make sure Andalites stayed more powerful. That arrogant liar!
(A word of wisdom, Lirem: Do not meddle in the affairs of humans, for they are subtle and quick to anger.)
(If I want advice from the top Andalite expert on humans, I'll ask for it,) Lirem sneered, with warning oozing in his thought-speech voice. (And I will only say this once, Prince Aximili: Once I set certain procedures in place pertaining to Andalite-Human relations from here, I will do what is necessary to make sure that they abide by what we set forth –)
(That, Head of Council Lirem, is where you are wrong,) a new thought-speech voice thundered from the entrance on the other end of the chamber.
Everyone turned their stalk eyes to look at the new entourage that had just entered. It was the Electorate. There was the Electorate leader followed by his ten fellow top Electorate members.
(Head Councilor Aldexen,) Lirem said with complete and utter shock in his voice. He said this with a tone a human child might use if caught by the parents in the act of trying to sneak some cookies.
Aldexen gave a slight, courteous bow. (My appointments today were cancelled, so I decided to listen in on this hearing, as I have the right to do.)
Lirem went dangerously pale, in spite of his best attempts to conceal it. His fellow council members also shifted uncomfortably.
(Lirem… the Electorate shall decide this matter from here. You may leave now.)
Lirem's tail blade shot up dangerously at being dismissed like that, although he did his best to restrain himself.
(But… Electorate Councilors, I must protest–!)
(This is obviously becoming very stressful for you, Lirem. Why don't you take leave and wait in my office where we can discuss other matters?)
Lirem got the hint. However, he had one last thing to say. (And I suppose you will excuse the Prince here for what he said – no, shouted – at me just now?)
Aldexen looked between the two of us, trying to be fair without making it look as though he was trying to choose favorites. (While Prince Aximili here may not have acted as he should have, he did make some fine points which none of us Andalites have wanted to accept before and own up to. We cannot continue to do some of the things we did during the Yeerk War, for any reason in the future.)
Trying to opt for the better part of valor, I bowed to Lirem and said, (I apologize for arguing with you like that, Head of Council Lirem.)
Lirem grudgingly accepted my apology with a subtle gesture, and then stepped down and trotted out of the room. However, he shot me one last look on the way out, one whose meaning I understood perfectly well: This isn't over.
Things finished smoothly with Aldexen in charge, and I came out looking like the honorary hero I returned to the home world as. But deep down, I also felt a few small pangs of unease. First my parents, now my superiors – who was I going to fight with next?
I was actually starting to miss Earth right about now…
(Aximili!) someone hissed to me in thought-speech.
I gave a small jerk, as though I was dozing off in xeno-biology class again. I turned to see Menderash by my side, wearing a small smirk on his face.
(Thank you, Menderash,) I said finally in private thought-speech. (I needed that, actually.)
The human and Andalite ambassadors had finished talking, and now Saventi was opening a small dark box. Inside for all to see was…
The stolen morphing cube!
However, upon closer inspection, I saw that it was only a jagged, uneven half of the cube; it glowed sporadically, giving the appearance that if someone were to touch it, it would jolt them with the energy it ran upon.
"Whoever commanded the Blade ship kept it safe a special container, designed to hold up against all forms of punishment – however, it seems it only did so well against the self-destruct mechanism. We found it among the debris and decided to return it to the Andalites, in spite of its condition."
Camsorar stepped up to receive the broken Escafil device in its new container, which Saventi genially handed over. (A wise and commendable choice of action, Ambassador Saventi. I thank you on behalf of the Andalite race.)
"You are certainly welcome, Ambassador Camsorar."
(However, while we are on the topic of morphing technology, maybe you can answer the question burning in our minds: How did you manage to create the device which can undo the nothlit condition?)
Everyone seemed to lean in closer to hear this.
Looking a little embarrassed (or so I assumed), Saventi said, "While we were tending to Prince Aximili and those who came to rescue him, we inspected the device. We had heard of this technology and how people could be trapped in morph, and so our scientists wanted to see if they could solve the problem, just to see if they could do it. We succeeded, using our own expertise in the various fields of science, as well as through the use of a rare kind of material that can be found only on our home planet, and possibly a few others in our territory as well."
Camsorar handed the box aside to aide, and then gazed upon the Kelbrid ambassador intently. (Please forgive my asking this, Ambassador Saventi, but… how do we know that you did not take the morphing technology for yourselves?)
A thick sort of silence now descended upon the room. My fellow Andalites also gazed intently upon this avian alien, all hoping that our prize technology did not just fall into the hands of yet another species. Saventi looked a little uneasy at this point, but said with unflinching eyes (and what I could only assume to be honesty), "I'm afraid that you and your fellow Andalites are going to have to take my word on that, Ambassador Camsorar. I can't prove that my kind does not have the technology or the power to morph. However, as I sign of my goodwill, I will give you the schematics for the device we constructed for that purpose. In fact… no offense meant, but me and my people don't even want the technology."
An awkward silence now replaced the thick silence, and next to me, I could hear Marco mutter, "Now there's a first."
Camsorar blinked more than once, but quickly regained his composure. He then asked, (No offense taken, but what precisely do you mean by that?)
Saventi shrugged his wings, ruffling his feathers a little. "We Kelbrid have developed our own sorts of technologies for spying, surveillance and combat, and are quite content with those technologies which we do have. Not only do we not want the technology, we really don't need it, either."
More silence… then finally, Camsorar stopped gazing at Saventi and relaxed a little, knowing he would get nothing any more useful from any further questions. (Thank you for your explanation.)
"Indeed," Saventi said with a curt nod. Looking around, Saventi said, "We have been at this for quite a while at now… may we take a short recess before we explain about The One?"
The recess was granted, and everyone relaxed as began to socialize a little.
I maneuvered my way through the crowd, trying to find a way outside. I eventually did manage to get through the nearest available exit, and I was enjoying the sunlight when I accidentally bumped into Alloran-Semitur-Corrass.
(Oh, my apologies, War-Prince,) I said semi-quickly with a dutiful bow.
(Relax, Aximili,) he said with what sounded like a faint trace of amusement in his voice. (No need for such formalities right here and now.)
(Thank you, Alloran.) Looking up again, I asked the old warrior, (So… if you do not mind me asking, how have things been for you since the last time we met at Visser One's trial?)
TBC…
A/N: Personally, I liked this chapter, especially with the flashbacks involved, and the anti-nothlit technology developed by the Kelbrid explained.
Note about Lirem: Don't like him much now? Well, you're certainly not going to like him later on… (Although, I do have a confession to make: The shouting match between Aximili and Lirem just sort of came to me as I was writing this chapter!)
Next chapter is where we see what and how Alloran has been doing since the end of the war… –Quillian
A BIG PLOT BUNNY THAT WOULDN'T STOP BUGGING ME!
Hey guys, I just thought of a good crossover idea… Animorphs and Tremors!
Picture this… The Yeerks are trying to find something out in the desert, the Animorphs go after them, and both sides end up facing more than they had bargained for! (I kind of got the idea from the Predator/Tremors crossover by Bastet1023, which is definitely worth checking out.)