DIC- heheheheheh! sorry. DISCLAIMER: I do not own animorphssh! I have a
lishp! I am we-todd-did!
Okay, sorry I kept you guys waiting! And heeeere weeeee gooooo!
AAAAH! Wait! Dedications! NOOOO! No time for dedications! I hereby dedicate this to Martha Stewart! Yep. There we go! weee! Dedications make us feel warm and cozy inside! WHOOO! Go Martha! Go jailbird!
NOW THAT'S LIVING!
Sorry.
L'Aini's POV
I met the human Cassie the next day. The Animorphs had managed to get a transmission to her. Aximili and Menderash helped to perfect it. They made what Prince Jake dubbed the "Cassie Hotline"- a communication channel directly to what Tobias told me was a thing called a 'webcam' attached to Cassie's computer.
(We do have those, you know.) I said to Tobias. (We're not oh so primitive!)
(Well.) Tobias said and smiled. (You acted like you didn't know.)
He was in andalite morph, and we were getting ready to run over to Estrid's home.
I had learned so much in the hour I had sat with her!
She had had such a hard life since the death of her first husband.
He had been a warrior, Ellapsim-Urunth-Alksbet. A Prince. He had been convicted and imprisoned for mutinying against, then killing his War Prince, who had ordered him to kill a young andalite believed to be infested. Ellapsim had been in prison for nearly a year, when Estrid arrived back at the planet.
For stealing a ship, and not to mention her attempt at destroying a people with a virus, she had been imprisoned for what was to be a term of nearly ten years or more. In the prison, she had faced all kinds of things. She would not tell me of them. I understood, and did not ask.
It was a maximum penalty prison, so only Andalites who had done things considered to be worst acts of crime were sent there. There was no real age limit during the war, and little deferentiation between sexes, so a female prisoner could end up in the midst of a hundred male prisoners. The military was too busy dealing with the Yeerks to care for the welfare of useless prisoners. Most of the time, the prisoners were left out on a field with a huge, domelike shield over it, impossible to break out of, to fend for themselves, unless they were placed in solitary confinement, or executed. They pretty much grouped together, set up odd leaders here and there, and ran wild.
But Ellapsim was feared by the other prisoners, so none of them bothered him. One night, Estrid asked Ellapsim if she could sleep by him, for safety. He reluctantly agreed after she begged him for several minutes. From then on, she slept by him, and he kept her safe. He got placed in solitary confinement once for beating the daylights out of three males, nearly killing two, when they tried to rape her. They all stayed away from her while he was in solitary confinement though, for fear of what he might do when he got out.
Ellapsim's case went to trial again, and he was freed. But he had not forgotten the little female aristh who had been imprisoned, he believed, wrongly. He took her case to trial, and by pulling a few strings (and, ahem, using the help of very, powerful friends!), managed to get Estrid out. Her family took her back. But her parents begged Ellapsim that in exchange for freeing her, that he would marry her! He initially said no. But they insisted that they would accept no one else as her husband.
Estrid told me that by this time, she had given up on Aximili. Her life in prison had made her feel that Aximili was 'just a childhood crush', and nothing more. And she didn't even know whether he was still alive, or not. Besides, she had fallen in love with Ellapsim, though he was several years older than her. And so they were married, when Estrid was only 13, nearing 14. Years later, at age 19, she had her little son, and her husband never objected to her naming it 'Aximili'.
Little Aximili thrived, and Ellapsim got back his prince status. He went back to the military, coming on leave only once every few months. He was injured once and to Estrid's delight stayed home for a year. He went back again, coming home on leave, once again, every few months.
Then, his ship was destroyed.
His brother, Alkez-Inithsh-Askbat, heard of his death and the widow he'd left behind, and feeling it his family duty to support her, and keep the family honor, married Estrid.
Estrid went silent after that. She then mumbled something about him being killed in an encounter with some Visser's blade ship, but she seemed like she didn't really care. It seemed as if it were her favorite part of the story. He must have been awful. She wouldn't say anything else about him. I could see pain in her eyes though. It must have been a desparate situation for her to marry him. Poor thing.
I had gone home that night to wrap my arms around my Yani, and feel thankful that my Kascherm had been my only husband, and had been the sweetest male I'd ever met. Then Hanike had showed up on my thoughtscreen and begged an audience with me. (You're never in anymore.) He whined. (I miss you.) I smiled. He was such a big baby!
(I'm lonely.) He'd said.
(I know.) I had smiled.
(I want to be with you.) He said with a sigh.
(Well you're going on leave soon.)
He pouted. (It's not soon enough!)
I smiled now, thinking of our conversation last night.
Prince Jake was fiddling with some wires. Last minute adjustments.
"Okay! Here goes!" He sounded very excited. He moved over.
"Menderash? Do your thing!"
Menderash sat, typed a little, and the screen switched to a picture of someone's face. It was a male human. He looked very puzzled.
"Okay...that's Ronnie." Prince Jake said.
Menderash and 'Ronnie' stared at eachother a while.
"Uh...I was uh...talking to my friend and-"
"Yes." Menderash said. "This is the Rachel."
He stared a little more. Suddenly his eyes widened. "Oh! Oooh! You want to speak to Cassie then, right?!"
"Ah, yes. That would be Cassie, yes."
The human Ronnie got up. He shouted something that sounded like "CASSIE BABY! UH, THERE'S SOME...PEOPLE. THEY'RE UH...ON THE WEBCAM! THEY WANT TO TALK TO YOU!"
"Yeah sweetie, people normally come on the webcam!" Was a teasing reply. "That's kind of what it's for!"
He rolled his eyes, exasparated, and Marco smirked a little.
"JUST COME HERE!"
She did, she peered into the screen. "Who is it?" She asked Ronnie. I saw Prince Jake suck in his breath.
"They say they're on the Rachel."
She sat down immediately in front of the screen.
She stared at Menderash.
He stared back.
"WELL?" She screamed hysterically at Menderash. He stared more, his eyes wide, his body leaning back now, as if her screaming had blasted him backwards in his seat.
"ARE THEY OKAY?! ARE THEY ALIVE?!" She screamed.
Prince Jake shoved Menderash off the seat. He landed on the floor with a yelp.
"HI CASSIE!" He squeaked oddly at the top of his vocal range.
She grinned slowly. "Jake!" She exhaled, and put one hand on her chest. "You're alive." She sounded relieved, to say the least.
"Yep. We all are, Cassie." He said proudly.
"You're...you're all there?!"
"Yep!" He broadened the view so Cassie could see all of us leaning around the view screen.
"Oh!" She laughed a little. "Oh my!" She reaimed her camera.
It showed the view of a dining area, and a kitchen.
Ronnie was sitting in the backround, blinking comically. He looked as if he didn't know quite what to say.
"Wow." She giggled nervously. Then she said. "Oh Marco! Hi! And TOBIAS!" She squealed. "Hi! It's so good to see you all alive!" She wiped at her eyes, which had become strangely moist.
"Uh, Cassie? This is Jeanne, and this is Santorelli," Prince Jake began to introduce everyone. "And here's Ax man-"
"Ooooh! Oh! You guys...you rescued him! Oh, wow! Hey Ax!" She called, her voice full of delight and joy.
"Uh, yeah. We...rescued him..." Prince Jake said lamely. "Oh, and uh, this is Menderash."
"Hello!" She looked at me. "Who's that?" She smiled at me.
"Oh! Sorry!" Prince Jake blushed. "She uh, this is Ax's doctor. Cassie, this is Doctor...uh..."
(L'Ainishikaa.) I said with a sigh. (You may call me Doctor L'Aini.)
"Oh. Well. Hello!" Then she looked puzzled. "Ax's doctor?"
Aximili winced.
"Uh, that's...kind of a long, long, story..." Prince Jake said. I had the feeling he would explain later, most likely right after we left.
(Well.) Tobias said, looking at the clock. (You can tell Cassie, cuz we have to go!) He grinned at Cassie. (Ax has a date!)
"Oh! Man! Well." She grinned and winked at him. "Go Ax!"
He blushed. (Thank you Cassie. Though I must say, it's really just a visit- )
"Who's the lucky girl?!"
(Oh...um...Estrid.)
"Oh! You found her?" Cassie grinned. "Well that's wonderful Ax!"
He smiled, blushing, and looked down. He was fidgeting nervously. He was ready to go!
"Well, will I get to talk to you guys again?!" Cassie cried.
"Oh! Yeah, sure!" He turned to Aximili and Menderash. "We'll still be able to access this anytime right?!"
(Oh, yes! Absolutely!) Aximili replied. (You just press that...and that...there...) He showed Prince Jake. (And a box will pop up, and you type 'Cassie' in it. It will have to be in either Andalite, Yeerk, or Galard, of course. Here, Menderash will show you.)
Menderash showed Prince Jake what to do. Then he and Cassie continued talking. The others gathered around, pulling seats up to the computer.
We all bid farewell to Cassie for the time, then began to leave. As we were leaving, I heard Prince Jake say
"Hey Menderash! Think we can move it to the big screen in the control room?!"
I heard the human Cassie laugh.
***
Tobias's POV
We galloped to Estrid's scoop; three andalites, side by side. Ax was silent most of the way, nervous, I assumed.
When we got there, Estrid was already standing outside, by the scoop. L'Aini told me that she had told Estrid we would come in the morning if she wanted. Estrid had said. (Yes! Absolutely! Please do!)
I looked to Ax now. His face was shocked.
Oh yeah, he was pleased.
She blushed furiously, and looked down.
I tried not to smile. Man! This was so akward!
I slowly turned to look at L'Aini. I caught her eye and we both slowly broke into grins. I tried desperately hard not to laugh.
I felt like singing "You are my shining star." or something equally cheesy just to irk Ax, in private thoughtspeak.
She looked up at him.
(Aximili?) She said, very softly.
He looked like all three of his hearts were going to stop, right then and there.
(Yes. I...Hello Estrid.)
Silence.
(I'm very glad you came.) She said, slowly, hesitantly.
(And I am glad as well.)
An even more long, drawn out silence.
(Well!) L'Aini said, breaking it. It was making her nervous! It was making me nervous too! My heavily furred andalite body was getting all sweaty. I decided to demorph.
I reached hawk, and nearly screamed in fright as two little andalite arms scooped me up! I calmed down.
It was Lil' Ax-man. He giggled in thoughtspeak.
(TOBIAS! Can I go see your ship now?!)
(Uh...well...you see...) I looked up and noticed Ax's stalk eyes watching Lil' Ax. I saw Estrid look nervously at Big Ax, then Lil' Ax. Back and forth between them. Ax's main eyes turned to look at the little andalite, holding me like a baby in his arms.
(Aximili?) I said. (I want you to meet my uncle, Aximili.)
He stared. He actually dropped me.
(THE Aximili?! THE PRINCE Aximili?!)
(Yep.)
He looked at me, then at Ax. (The same one who fought the Yeerks on planet Earth?!)
(The very same one.) I said, brightly.
(The...the one who fought alongside the ANIMORPHS?!)
(He sure did.)
(THE ONE WHO-)
(Aximili, dear!) Estrid said. Ax turned to look at her. Then he realized she was talking to the little guy, who now looked like he was going to hyperventilate from excitement.
(I think that we can be quite sure that he's the same Prince Aximili.)
The little andalite blushed. He looked to me. (Do...do you want to play domeship again?) He said, shyly.
(Sure!) I said. I looked at L'Aini.
(Why don't you come and play domeship with us?!) I said, pronouncing every syllable in open thoughtspeak. In private I said, (Come on! It's a perfect excuse to leave these two lovebirds alone!)
She smiled. (I would LOVE to see Aximili's domeship.) She winked at Big Ax, then followed me and Lil' Ax to the scoop. Estrid looked about to protest, but she gave in and her shoulders sagged a little.
Snickering privately in our heads, L'Aini and I went with Lil' Ax, as he stopped by the scoop to pick up his domeship and control, and then led us to an open area on the beach.
We played with the little andalite for a while. The doctor giggled as she tried the domeship.
(I suppose you've never tried this before?) I asked.
(Well, no actually. My son Anukili has one.) She stopped, her eyes stared blankly into space suddenly, the smile disappeared from her face. She put the control in my hands. (Had one.) She corrected herself. She looked away, and at the ground, blinking rapidly, and wouldn't look me in the eyes.
My heart truly ached for her. She would never go home to see that little andalite fly his little toy domeship again.
I continued playing with the little guy. She merely stood on a dune, arms crossed, pretending to watch the waves, her blazing, jungle green eyes, squinted against the wind. She was very quiet, and solemn the rest of the time.
I demorphed to hawk after about an hour and a half of playing with the domeship, then walking with Lil' Ax, along the beach, talking about different stuff; L'Aini walking a few steps behind us, looking at the sea horizon and the ground, quietly, sorrowfully.
I flew back to the scoop, and L'Aini ran alongside Lil' Ax back to the scoop. I got there first. I landed in the sand, near the opening, and I saw Ax and Estrid sitting close, talking intently in private thoughtspeak; Ax smiling, and nodding periodically, or shaking his head the slightest bit, and Estrid bobbing her eyestalks and smiling, and moving her small, delicate hands about, expressively. They noticed me, and blushed.
(Hello, Tobias.) Ax, said softly. There was a peace there I hadn't seen before, deep in his eyes. Man! He looked years younger, almost like an aristh again, and he had a contented smile set deep into his face. Estrid was looking full of life, and even more beautiful because for the first time since I'd first seen her the other day, her eyes were full of merriment and joy, and there was an odd spark in them. Her face was contorted into a pleasant smile.
Ax looked grateful to me. I looked at them both and nearly cried. They looked so happy together.
I thought of Rachel again. How happy I'd been with her.
And even as I thought of that, I thought of my ship full of friends, and I didn't feel so bad. I felt almost glad I had lived, even though she hadn't.
(Hey Ax man! Did you guys have a good talk?)
They looked at eachother and blushed. Then they both turned their heads to smile at me.
(Yes, we did.) Ax said, softly.
We stayed nearly the whole day.
At last it was late afternoon, and we all went back. L'Aini was shocked when she saw how late it was.
(We spent the whole day here!) She cried out. She turned to Estrid and said apologetically. (Not that I didn't enjoy it, that is! It was wonderful! It's just that I've left my daughter alone all day and I've got to get home and-)
(Oh, it's quite alright! I understand!) Estrid replied.
I had really enjoyed myself. I was kind of sad that we had to leave.
We galloped toward the Rachel. I insisted escorting the doc home first. Ax went with me. There seemed to be a new spring in his step.
Suddenly something occurred to me.
(Ax!)
(Yes Tobias?) Ax said, still calm and relaxed of the Estrid vibe.
(Did you...you know...tell Estrid about...well...you know?)
(Well, yes, I did actually. It was the strangest thing! It was like she wasn't even repulsed or disgusted at all!)
I saw a very, very guilty look on L'Aini's face. Ax noticed it too, and the prolonged, akward silence between the doctor and I.
He looked at L'Aini questioningly.
(Honestly?) She said, her face wincing. She then sighed, and looked down. (I told her...I told her yesterday...)
(Oh. Well.) Ax blushed, looked a little annoyed, but overall fine. (I suppose that's alright. I mean, it's just as well.) He smiled.
(...that you had multiple personality disorder.) She finished, wincing, again, and shrinking from him now.
(WHAT?!) He said, shocked. (You told her...I...) He shook his head, anger in his eyes. (I can't believe this!) He looked accusingly at me. (Did YOU know about this Tobias?!)
(Huh? Me?! No! No way! I told you, I wasn't there, when they had the conversation!)
He glared at me. (Well! You SHOULD have been!) He glared at us for a few more moments.
Then he just started to laugh.
(W-what is it?) I asked, almost thinking the One had gotten control again. I saw L'Aini tensen and shrink from Ax, her eyes wide and watching his face, her stalk eyes glued to his tail, her own tail up and twitching.
He smiled and said nothing, shaking his head for a few seconds.
Then he said, (Oh, me! I don't even know why I care anymore! Multiple personality disorder!) He began to laugh again.
(I'm really sorry Ax man.) I said, softly. L'Aini nodded.
He smiled and shook his head. (Do you know what, Tobias? It doesn't even matter anymore.)
L'Aini smiled, as if mystified by his. She asked very simply,
(Why?!)
He grinned a dozy, loopy, dreamy grin, and all four of his eyes stared up into the stars that were beginning to come out, and display themselves fully.
(Because she loves me.) He said softly.
Okay, sorry I kept you guys waiting! And heeeere weeeee gooooo!
AAAAH! Wait! Dedications! NOOOO! No time for dedications! I hereby dedicate this to Martha Stewart! Yep. There we go! weee! Dedications make us feel warm and cozy inside! WHOOO! Go Martha! Go jailbird!
NOW THAT'S LIVING!
Sorry.
L'Aini's POV
I met the human Cassie the next day. The Animorphs had managed to get a transmission to her. Aximili and Menderash helped to perfect it. They made what Prince Jake dubbed the "Cassie Hotline"- a communication channel directly to what Tobias told me was a thing called a 'webcam' attached to Cassie's computer.
(We do have those, you know.) I said to Tobias. (We're not oh so primitive!)
(Well.) Tobias said and smiled. (You acted like you didn't know.)
He was in andalite morph, and we were getting ready to run over to Estrid's home.
I had learned so much in the hour I had sat with her!
She had had such a hard life since the death of her first husband.
He had been a warrior, Ellapsim-Urunth-Alksbet. A Prince. He had been convicted and imprisoned for mutinying against, then killing his War Prince, who had ordered him to kill a young andalite believed to be infested. Ellapsim had been in prison for nearly a year, when Estrid arrived back at the planet.
For stealing a ship, and not to mention her attempt at destroying a people with a virus, she had been imprisoned for what was to be a term of nearly ten years or more. In the prison, she had faced all kinds of things. She would not tell me of them. I understood, and did not ask.
It was a maximum penalty prison, so only Andalites who had done things considered to be worst acts of crime were sent there. There was no real age limit during the war, and little deferentiation between sexes, so a female prisoner could end up in the midst of a hundred male prisoners. The military was too busy dealing with the Yeerks to care for the welfare of useless prisoners. Most of the time, the prisoners were left out on a field with a huge, domelike shield over it, impossible to break out of, to fend for themselves, unless they were placed in solitary confinement, or executed. They pretty much grouped together, set up odd leaders here and there, and ran wild.
But Ellapsim was feared by the other prisoners, so none of them bothered him. One night, Estrid asked Ellapsim if she could sleep by him, for safety. He reluctantly agreed after she begged him for several minutes. From then on, she slept by him, and he kept her safe. He got placed in solitary confinement once for beating the daylights out of three males, nearly killing two, when they tried to rape her. They all stayed away from her while he was in solitary confinement though, for fear of what he might do when he got out.
Ellapsim's case went to trial again, and he was freed. But he had not forgotten the little female aristh who had been imprisoned, he believed, wrongly. He took her case to trial, and by pulling a few strings (and, ahem, using the help of very, powerful friends!), managed to get Estrid out. Her family took her back. But her parents begged Ellapsim that in exchange for freeing her, that he would marry her! He initially said no. But they insisted that they would accept no one else as her husband.
Estrid told me that by this time, she had given up on Aximili. Her life in prison had made her feel that Aximili was 'just a childhood crush', and nothing more. And she didn't even know whether he was still alive, or not. Besides, she had fallen in love with Ellapsim, though he was several years older than her. And so they were married, when Estrid was only 13, nearing 14. Years later, at age 19, she had her little son, and her husband never objected to her naming it 'Aximili'.
Little Aximili thrived, and Ellapsim got back his prince status. He went back to the military, coming on leave only once every few months. He was injured once and to Estrid's delight stayed home for a year. He went back again, coming home on leave, once again, every few months.
Then, his ship was destroyed.
His brother, Alkez-Inithsh-Askbat, heard of his death and the widow he'd left behind, and feeling it his family duty to support her, and keep the family honor, married Estrid.
Estrid went silent after that. She then mumbled something about him being killed in an encounter with some Visser's blade ship, but she seemed like she didn't really care. It seemed as if it were her favorite part of the story. He must have been awful. She wouldn't say anything else about him. I could see pain in her eyes though. It must have been a desparate situation for her to marry him. Poor thing.
I had gone home that night to wrap my arms around my Yani, and feel thankful that my Kascherm had been my only husband, and had been the sweetest male I'd ever met. Then Hanike had showed up on my thoughtscreen and begged an audience with me. (You're never in anymore.) He whined. (I miss you.) I smiled. He was such a big baby!
(I'm lonely.) He'd said.
(I know.) I had smiled.
(I want to be with you.) He said with a sigh.
(Well you're going on leave soon.)
He pouted. (It's not soon enough!)
I smiled now, thinking of our conversation last night.
Prince Jake was fiddling with some wires. Last minute adjustments.
"Okay! Here goes!" He sounded very excited. He moved over.
"Menderash? Do your thing!"
Menderash sat, typed a little, and the screen switched to a picture of someone's face. It was a male human. He looked very puzzled.
"Okay...that's Ronnie." Prince Jake said.
Menderash and 'Ronnie' stared at eachother a while.
"Uh...I was uh...talking to my friend and-"
"Yes." Menderash said. "This is the Rachel."
He stared a little more. Suddenly his eyes widened. "Oh! Oooh! You want to speak to Cassie then, right?!"
"Ah, yes. That would be Cassie, yes."
The human Ronnie got up. He shouted something that sounded like "CASSIE BABY! UH, THERE'S SOME...PEOPLE. THEY'RE UH...ON THE WEBCAM! THEY WANT TO TALK TO YOU!"
"Yeah sweetie, people normally come on the webcam!" Was a teasing reply. "That's kind of what it's for!"
He rolled his eyes, exasparated, and Marco smirked a little.
"JUST COME HERE!"
She did, she peered into the screen. "Who is it?" She asked Ronnie. I saw Prince Jake suck in his breath.
"They say they're on the Rachel."
She sat down immediately in front of the screen.
She stared at Menderash.
He stared back.
"WELL?" She screamed hysterically at Menderash. He stared more, his eyes wide, his body leaning back now, as if her screaming had blasted him backwards in his seat.
"ARE THEY OKAY?! ARE THEY ALIVE?!" She screamed.
Prince Jake shoved Menderash off the seat. He landed on the floor with a yelp.
"HI CASSIE!" He squeaked oddly at the top of his vocal range.
She grinned slowly. "Jake!" She exhaled, and put one hand on her chest. "You're alive." She sounded relieved, to say the least.
"Yep. We all are, Cassie." He said proudly.
"You're...you're all there?!"
"Yep!" He broadened the view so Cassie could see all of us leaning around the view screen.
"Oh!" She laughed a little. "Oh my!" She reaimed her camera.
It showed the view of a dining area, and a kitchen.
Ronnie was sitting in the backround, blinking comically. He looked as if he didn't know quite what to say.
"Wow." She giggled nervously. Then she said. "Oh Marco! Hi! And TOBIAS!" She squealed. "Hi! It's so good to see you all alive!" She wiped at her eyes, which had become strangely moist.
"Uh, Cassie? This is Jeanne, and this is Santorelli," Prince Jake began to introduce everyone. "And here's Ax man-"
"Ooooh! Oh! You guys...you rescued him! Oh, wow! Hey Ax!" She called, her voice full of delight and joy.
"Uh, yeah. We...rescued him..." Prince Jake said lamely. "Oh, and uh, this is Menderash."
"Hello!" She looked at me. "Who's that?" She smiled at me.
"Oh! Sorry!" Prince Jake blushed. "She uh, this is Ax's doctor. Cassie, this is Doctor...uh..."
(L'Ainishikaa.) I said with a sigh. (You may call me Doctor L'Aini.)
"Oh. Well. Hello!" Then she looked puzzled. "Ax's doctor?"
Aximili winced.
"Uh, that's...kind of a long, long, story..." Prince Jake said. I had the feeling he would explain later, most likely right after we left.
(Well.) Tobias said, looking at the clock. (You can tell Cassie, cuz we have to go!) He grinned at Cassie. (Ax has a date!)
"Oh! Man! Well." She grinned and winked at him. "Go Ax!"
He blushed. (Thank you Cassie. Though I must say, it's really just a visit- )
"Who's the lucky girl?!"
(Oh...um...Estrid.)
"Oh! You found her?" Cassie grinned. "Well that's wonderful Ax!"
He smiled, blushing, and looked down. He was fidgeting nervously. He was ready to go!
"Well, will I get to talk to you guys again?!" Cassie cried.
"Oh! Yeah, sure!" He turned to Aximili and Menderash. "We'll still be able to access this anytime right?!"
(Oh, yes! Absolutely!) Aximili replied. (You just press that...and that...there...) He showed Prince Jake. (And a box will pop up, and you type 'Cassie' in it. It will have to be in either Andalite, Yeerk, or Galard, of course. Here, Menderash will show you.)
Menderash showed Prince Jake what to do. Then he and Cassie continued talking. The others gathered around, pulling seats up to the computer.
We all bid farewell to Cassie for the time, then began to leave. As we were leaving, I heard Prince Jake say
"Hey Menderash! Think we can move it to the big screen in the control room?!"
I heard the human Cassie laugh.
***
Tobias's POV
We galloped to Estrid's scoop; three andalites, side by side. Ax was silent most of the way, nervous, I assumed.
When we got there, Estrid was already standing outside, by the scoop. L'Aini told me that she had told Estrid we would come in the morning if she wanted. Estrid had said. (Yes! Absolutely! Please do!)
I looked to Ax now. His face was shocked.
Oh yeah, he was pleased.
She blushed furiously, and looked down.
I tried not to smile. Man! This was so akward!
I slowly turned to look at L'Aini. I caught her eye and we both slowly broke into grins. I tried desperately hard not to laugh.
I felt like singing "You are my shining star." or something equally cheesy just to irk Ax, in private thoughtspeak.
She looked up at him.
(Aximili?) She said, very softly.
He looked like all three of his hearts were going to stop, right then and there.
(Yes. I...Hello Estrid.)
Silence.
(I'm very glad you came.) She said, slowly, hesitantly.
(And I am glad as well.)
An even more long, drawn out silence.
(Well!) L'Aini said, breaking it. It was making her nervous! It was making me nervous too! My heavily furred andalite body was getting all sweaty. I decided to demorph.
I reached hawk, and nearly screamed in fright as two little andalite arms scooped me up! I calmed down.
It was Lil' Ax-man. He giggled in thoughtspeak.
(TOBIAS! Can I go see your ship now?!)
(Uh...well...you see...) I looked up and noticed Ax's stalk eyes watching Lil' Ax. I saw Estrid look nervously at Big Ax, then Lil' Ax. Back and forth between them. Ax's main eyes turned to look at the little andalite, holding me like a baby in his arms.
(Aximili?) I said. (I want you to meet my uncle, Aximili.)
He stared. He actually dropped me.
(THE Aximili?! THE PRINCE Aximili?!)
(Yep.)
He looked at me, then at Ax. (The same one who fought the Yeerks on planet Earth?!)
(The very same one.) I said, brightly.
(The...the one who fought alongside the ANIMORPHS?!)
(He sure did.)
(THE ONE WHO-)
(Aximili, dear!) Estrid said. Ax turned to look at her. Then he realized she was talking to the little guy, who now looked like he was going to hyperventilate from excitement.
(I think that we can be quite sure that he's the same Prince Aximili.)
The little andalite blushed. He looked to me. (Do...do you want to play domeship again?) He said, shyly.
(Sure!) I said. I looked at L'Aini.
(Why don't you come and play domeship with us?!) I said, pronouncing every syllable in open thoughtspeak. In private I said, (Come on! It's a perfect excuse to leave these two lovebirds alone!)
She smiled. (I would LOVE to see Aximili's domeship.) She winked at Big Ax, then followed me and Lil' Ax to the scoop. Estrid looked about to protest, but she gave in and her shoulders sagged a little.
Snickering privately in our heads, L'Aini and I went with Lil' Ax, as he stopped by the scoop to pick up his domeship and control, and then led us to an open area on the beach.
We played with the little andalite for a while. The doctor giggled as she tried the domeship.
(I suppose you've never tried this before?) I asked.
(Well, no actually. My son Anukili has one.) She stopped, her eyes stared blankly into space suddenly, the smile disappeared from her face. She put the control in my hands. (Had one.) She corrected herself. She looked away, and at the ground, blinking rapidly, and wouldn't look me in the eyes.
My heart truly ached for her. She would never go home to see that little andalite fly his little toy domeship again.
I continued playing with the little guy. She merely stood on a dune, arms crossed, pretending to watch the waves, her blazing, jungle green eyes, squinted against the wind. She was very quiet, and solemn the rest of the time.
I demorphed to hawk after about an hour and a half of playing with the domeship, then walking with Lil' Ax, along the beach, talking about different stuff; L'Aini walking a few steps behind us, looking at the sea horizon and the ground, quietly, sorrowfully.
I flew back to the scoop, and L'Aini ran alongside Lil' Ax back to the scoop. I got there first. I landed in the sand, near the opening, and I saw Ax and Estrid sitting close, talking intently in private thoughtspeak; Ax smiling, and nodding periodically, or shaking his head the slightest bit, and Estrid bobbing her eyestalks and smiling, and moving her small, delicate hands about, expressively. They noticed me, and blushed.
(Hello, Tobias.) Ax, said softly. There was a peace there I hadn't seen before, deep in his eyes. Man! He looked years younger, almost like an aristh again, and he had a contented smile set deep into his face. Estrid was looking full of life, and even more beautiful because for the first time since I'd first seen her the other day, her eyes were full of merriment and joy, and there was an odd spark in them. Her face was contorted into a pleasant smile.
Ax looked grateful to me. I looked at them both and nearly cried. They looked so happy together.
I thought of Rachel again. How happy I'd been with her.
And even as I thought of that, I thought of my ship full of friends, and I didn't feel so bad. I felt almost glad I had lived, even though she hadn't.
(Hey Ax man! Did you guys have a good talk?)
They looked at eachother and blushed. Then they both turned their heads to smile at me.
(Yes, we did.) Ax said, softly.
We stayed nearly the whole day.
At last it was late afternoon, and we all went back. L'Aini was shocked when she saw how late it was.
(We spent the whole day here!) She cried out. She turned to Estrid and said apologetically. (Not that I didn't enjoy it, that is! It was wonderful! It's just that I've left my daughter alone all day and I've got to get home and-)
(Oh, it's quite alright! I understand!) Estrid replied.
I had really enjoyed myself. I was kind of sad that we had to leave.
We galloped toward the Rachel. I insisted escorting the doc home first. Ax went with me. There seemed to be a new spring in his step.
Suddenly something occurred to me.
(Ax!)
(Yes Tobias?) Ax said, still calm and relaxed of the Estrid vibe.
(Did you...you know...tell Estrid about...well...you know?)
(Well, yes, I did actually. It was the strangest thing! It was like she wasn't even repulsed or disgusted at all!)
I saw a very, very guilty look on L'Aini's face. Ax noticed it too, and the prolonged, akward silence between the doctor and I.
He looked at L'Aini questioningly.
(Honestly?) She said, her face wincing. She then sighed, and looked down. (I told her...I told her yesterday...)
(Oh. Well.) Ax blushed, looked a little annoyed, but overall fine. (I suppose that's alright. I mean, it's just as well.) He smiled.
(...that you had multiple personality disorder.) She finished, wincing, again, and shrinking from him now.
(WHAT?!) He said, shocked. (You told her...I...) He shook his head, anger in his eyes. (I can't believe this!) He looked accusingly at me. (Did YOU know about this Tobias?!)
(Huh? Me?! No! No way! I told you, I wasn't there, when they had the conversation!)
He glared at me. (Well! You SHOULD have been!) He glared at us for a few more moments.
Then he just started to laugh.
(W-what is it?) I asked, almost thinking the One had gotten control again. I saw L'Aini tensen and shrink from Ax, her eyes wide and watching his face, her stalk eyes glued to his tail, her own tail up and twitching.
He smiled and said nothing, shaking his head for a few seconds.
Then he said, (Oh, me! I don't even know why I care anymore! Multiple personality disorder!) He began to laugh again.
(I'm really sorry Ax man.) I said, softly. L'Aini nodded.
He smiled and shook his head. (Do you know what, Tobias? It doesn't even matter anymore.)
L'Aini smiled, as if mystified by his. She asked very simply,
(Why?!)
He grinned a dozy, loopy, dreamy grin, and all four of his eyes stared up into the stars that were beginning to come out, and display themselves fully.
(Because she loves me.) He said softly.