Ka-TINK!

I was still alive. I managed to crack open an eye to see why. Another Andalite had moved in and blocked Visser Three's attack. He stood right over me, blocking me completely from Visser Three.

((I will not allow you to kill my sister,)) the Andalite warned.

I muttered silently, "Elfangor?"

He swivelled a stalk eye to look at me, and I saw him smile the way an Andalite usually smiles when he's amused by something. ((No; I am Aximili.))

"Oh. You look just like him."

((Thank you.))

((I will kill you all!)) Visser Three yelled. He moved away to get ready for another attack, but my brother was faster. FWAPP! TINK! They fought like this for a while before I felt myself being lifted off the ground.

((Welcome to the Marco Express!)) the ape said to me. ((Please keep arms and legs inside the gorilla at all times. Enjoy the trip!)) My eyes were closing again. The ape shook me roughly and my eyes snapped open. ((Don't fall asleep, Sarah. We'll get you out of here. Trust me.))

"Trust… You?" I whispered as loudly as I could, which I guessed was not very loud at all. "After all the… Trust you showed me… Thus far?"

((I deserve that.)) He was silent for a moment. ((I'm sorry, if it's any consolation.))

"Don't… Worry about it. I would do the… Same thing if I were you."

I could faintly hear the prisoners screaming for help again. We must have been leaving. I heard booming in my mind, ((Get them! Don't let them get away! Kill them!)) but I heard no on coming attack. There must not have been anyone left to attack us.

((Ha! She got rid of all opposition!)) Jake said.

((Better than anything Rachel has done,)) Marco added.

((She has an unfair advantage: she can use a Dracon Beam.))

I smiled as I closed my eyes again. Marco's gorilla arms were very comforting. I felt myself drifting off to sleep…

((Wake up, Sarah!)) I heard Marco shout, as he shook me vigorously. My eyes snapped open again, but way out of focus. ((We need Visser Three's code again. Come on!))

"What?" I didn't understand what he was talking about.

((His code, Sarah! Please!)) Cassie added. ((If you don't put it in, we'll all die!))

"Code?" I blinked.

Jake roared in my head, ((Put in Visser Three's code now, Sarah!))

Instantly, I replied, "Yes, sir," and looked at the panel Marco put me in front of. I saw the keyboard and had to seriously think about the code before I remembered it. I typed it in far slower than the first time I did it, and after I finished, my arm felt too weak to move. I looked down at Marco's arms and saw a great deal of my blood stained his fur.

"Sorry," I muttered pitifully.

((Don't worry about it,)) he replied. I felt myself moving again. We were climbing up a staircase. The screams and cries were getting dimmer, but that may have been because I was passing out again. Marco had to shake me again to wake me up.

((Ax, hurry up! We're leaving!)) Tobias shouted.

((Don't make me turn this car around!)) Marco mocked. Jake and Cassie laughed a bit.

((I will kill you all! You will all die! Especially you, Sarah!)) I heard the Visser scream, just as a whoosh sounded behind me and sunlight hit my face.

We continued moving. I heard the sounds of grass swishing around and the sun faded in and out. I guessed we were in the forest. We must have left the Pool through a different exit than the one we came in by. That was probably Jake's decision: best not let the Yeerks see what entrances we have access to.

Marco put me on the ground. Even the dirt floor was comfortable. I could still feel blood pouring out of my shoulders. I tried to keep my eyes open, but the focus was off. All I saw was a blur. I could hear voices, but they sounded like they were a million miles away.

"How do we stop the bleeding?"

"Put pressure on the wound."

"Look how big the wound is! Or wounds, rather."

"It was pretty stupid of her to go in like that."

"You can't tell us you don't think she's cool for doing it, Rachel."

"I'm not saying that! In fact, I'm proud. It's just too bad it wasn't me."

"You want a wound like that?"

"I'm not saying that either!"

((Maybe we should get Erek. He might know what to do.))

"One thing's for sure: she can't go to a regular hospital."

There was a silence. That could have been me passing in and out of consciousness, though. "Tobias, can you get Erek and tell him to meet us at Ax's scoop?"

((Can do.))

"Who's going to carry her?"

"I will."

I felt myself being lifted up again, and my arms being gripped from the front. I guessed I was on someone's back. The movement was slower this time, as I was being carried by a human, but it was necessary; zoo animals don't hike through the forest.

I felt completely foolish. Not for being carried, but for losing to Visser Three. Not just losing, but not even putting up a better fight. I barely hit him and almost died. Maybe it was my arrogance, but it was the greatest disappointment in my life. I felt embarrassed, too. I thought for sure I could kill him with my bare hands. My bare, human hands. I was foolish to think so.

"It's not foolish to think you can win," Rachel said. "It's foolish to think you can do it all by yourself."

Oh, crap! Did I say that out loud? It was meant for my head. I managed to speak again. "I spent months planning his destruction and the best way to do it. I swore I would kill him for my brother's death, and with that opportunity, I failed."

((I've failed on several occasions as well,)) Aximili confessed to me. ((It just means I need more training. Visser Three's host body is an Andalite war-prince. He has been through more battles than you or I combined. He has much experience.))

"And I'm just a novice compared to him," I muttered.

((Yes. But if we work together, we can defeat him together. I've learned that on my tenure to this planet. Teamwork is essential.))

"Yeah," Jake agreed, "and as a member of this team, your experience and work are essential, too."

"Welcome aboard!" Marco said from below me. He was carrying me. "Check your sanity at the door and come on in!"

"But don't be too reckless, because that's my job," Rachel added.

"That's right! You're Xena: Warrior Princess," Marco said. "So what does that make Sarah?"

"Lara Croft: Tomb Raider," Cassie suggested. Everyone laughed their approval.

I smiled faintly. They welcomed me. I was officially a part of them. I finally had their trust. And all I had to do was almost get myself killed. I would have laughed if I had the energy…