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RACHEL

I looked up when Tobias came into the room, followed a very tired-looking Tori

"What happened?" I asked immediately

"We got attacked, by a Howler," answered Tobias, "Tori's wing got shredded and the damn thing chased us when we tried to return"

I looked around at Ax. He also looked surprised by this report, seeing as Tori is his grandniece. I got up and helped Tori sit down, as Tobias dropped down onto one of the couches. Ax left to get some water

"So it was a Howler that attacked?" I asked

Tobias nodded

"You didn't get to see anything else?"

"Nope. We'd only been flying for several minutes"

"When Jake and Marco return, we'll find out about the rest of this place"

Ax returned with the water and handed it to Tori, who started gulping it down

"Don't do that, you'll make yourself sick and we can't have that," I scolded

She slowed her drinking, as Ax watched over her

The doors burst opened and Marco walked in

"Hello ladies and gentlemen and resident Andalite-"

He stopped after seeing the look on Tori's face. He switched from humour to the skeptical person who's suspicious of what's around him

"What happened?"

"We got attacked by a Howler and Tori got hit with a flechette gun," answered Tobias

"You know, I'm kinda confused about how the Howlers are still around," I said, "wouldn't Crayak have wiped them all out, when you know, Jake and Cassie?"

"Like we've discussed, Crayak would have killed them and rebuilt them," grinned Marco, "and maybe rebuilt them to be immune to love"

"Oh go and find Melissa," I said, turning back to my daughter

"Honey, are you okay now," I asked

She put the glass down and nodded, before leaning back

"Tori, what did you fight in that maze?" asked Marco

"Dragons, giant snakes, giant woodlouses, huge underwater thingy and other creatures"

"Hey guys"

We all looked around to face Jake, who had just come in with Adam and Sam

"Hey Tori, you okay?" asked Adam

"We've found out that the exterior of this place is like a fortress and the interior is like a mansion," announced Jake

"I know," said Tobias, "but I kinda failed to notice it when I was bringing Tori back from a Howler attack"

"Go and tell the whole world, why don't you," she snapped

I looked at her in surprise. I never knew her to snap like that

"Tori, go and take a lie-down okay, I'll check on you soon," said Tobias

"Okay Dad"

And she was gone. I turned back to Jake, holding Tobias' hand

"Anything else you want to tell us?"

"We have five Dracon assault cannons fixed on the third story, this fortress is five stories high and there's a Dracon sniper beam fixed on the roof, with two larger assault cannons on the fourth story"

(And these assault cannons are powerful) said Ax (Able to blast a hole in the ground while sending out shockwaves of deadly sound waves and Dracons)

"Yeah, but we're only a team of eleven," I said, "how can we fight and use these weapons while the enemy is attacking?"

"Well, we found these," said Marco

John and Leah came, carrying a large cardboard box. And when they placed the box on the coffee table, I looked in and gasped

"Dracon beams," grinned Marco

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AX

Seeing those Dracon beams in the box surprised me. I never knew that the Ellimist would do this for us. Maybe we might this war…

Prince Jake began to turn serious

"Alright, we're starting up our plans, based on Tobias' flight"

"No worries," said my nephew

"We're gonna have shifts, okay, so we know what's going on. A shift of two hours each, shared by eleven people"

"Maybe its best if we did up rosters," suggested Adam

"And I'm so going on shift with Adam," said Sam

"How many people would we need on each shift?" asked Rachel

"Not sure really. If Ashley or Melissa want to go on shift," started Prince Jake

"My wife is not going on shifts," said Marco, "sorry, Jake, but you know why"

"The baby, of course, don't fret man"

He turned to Adam

"You don't mind if Ashley goes with you and Sam?"

"All good, she'll be with us. We'll look after her," Adam agreed

"This is what we're going to do," said Prince Jake, before he stopped

"Ax, can you go and get Leah, John, Ashley and Cassie?" He turned to Rachel, "and what about Tori, because she's taking a rest?"

"Let her rest," said Tobias, "I'll tell her about when she wakes up"

"Alright, can you get those people for me?"

(I'm on it, my prince)

"Don't call me prince"

(Yes Prince Jake)

I left the room and went up the stairs, going through the doors on the right. I knocked on the second door. John answered

"Yes, Ax, can I help you?"

(Your father requests your presence) I answered

"Ax, I reckon you need to lighten up"

(What do you mean by that?)

"I mean, you need to let loose and hang out"

(Just go)

"Later"

He disappeared, so I went to collected Leah and Ashley, before heading over to Cassie's room, where I found her, Melissa, Kevin and baby Damien

(Prince Jake would like us to come downstairs) I announced

"Be there in a few seconds," said Cassie

They followed me into the meeting room, where we all sat around Prince Jake to hear his plans

"We're setting up shifts of two hours during the night. I'll make a roster for those who are taking guard. So it'll go like this: Adam, Sam and Ashley are in one shift. Marco, Tobias and I are in another. Then there's Rachel, Cassie and Tori, and finally, Ax, John and Leah"

He looked at us all in turn

"Any questions about that?"

"No sir," said Marco in a deep, barking voice

"Who wants to go first?" asked Prince Jake

"We will," offered Sam

"Then it's settled. My group will go next and we'll go from there"

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