A/N: Wow! That was quick. Thanx for the reviews, Xenia and Blind-Jezebel! Much appreciated. Hope ya'll like this next chapt, too. Remember, constrictive criticism is always much welcome! (But only constructive.)

Disclaimer: I wish they were mine.

Chapter Three:

Tobias

In stun, I slowly closed the phone. When I found the strength, I turned to run, but I only found myself face-to-face with Visser Three (more like face-to-chest because he's taller). Trapped! You can just kiss your you-know-what goodbye I thought to myself. I couldn't morph and I couldn't run. What was there to do?

"You Andalites are far too difficult to catch," Visser Three told me, satisfied with himself.

"You'll find we're even harder to kill, too," I tried to sound unafraid, despite my backing away.

"I'm not gonna kill you," he smirked as he advanced. "I've brought myself to be compassionate towards an enemy. I merely want to…give you a better advantage."

"The hell you will!" I cried, backing into Tom, Jake's older brother. I knew what they had in mind. They wanted to turn me into a human-Controller. Believe me; I'd rather die than suffer that fate. I think just about anyone would. And the Secrets the Yeerk will find in my brain. When you're infested, there's no hope in hiding anything.

But there was no way to weasel out of this, if you know what I mean. I couldn't demorph because they would see I'm not really an actual Andalite and that would probably just result in being killed. And even if I could demorph, I couldn't do it fast enough to fly out of there. What was worse was that none of the other Animorphs knew where I was. I was all alone. But, to my surprise, suddenly--

Stand down, Yeerks! a female thought-voice rang in my ears. And, apparently, in the Controllers' ears, too. It wasn't Rachel's; hers was too over-aggressive compared to this one. It wasn't Cassie's; hers was higher in pitch. I had no clue who this was. But she told the Yeerks to back down in a warning, threatening tone, so I figured she was a friend. Maybe even another Andalite! She spoke in thought-speak, didn't she?

Every Controller looked around, trying to find the source of the voice. But they soon found it because a blue centaur-like thing with a sharp scorpion-ish tail dropped as if straight from the sky and landed between me and Visser Three. (Oh, yeah. She was an Andalite, alright.) My first impression was that it was Ax, but then I remembered the female 'voice'. She stared hard at Visser Three and her powerful 'voice' demanded, Let this boy alone!

Visser Three, however, didn't recoil, "And why would I do that? If you'll look around you, you and your little Andalite friend are outnumbered thirteen to two. The odds are greatly against you."

I go by the evens, which are with me. She didn't talk like any typical Andalite (that is, if they're all anything like Ax). She had a—even if it was dry—sense of humor. Well, I guess the best way to put it is that she had comebacks at the ready.

"You're surrounded, Andalite," Visser Three grinned, advancing on us both. "There's no way out."

I beg to differ was her fearless answer. With a slow movement, I noticed she grabbed my collar with her six-fingered hand, somehow without the Controllers noticing. Something made me trust her. But I didn't even know her! What was wrong with me!? But, still…

A split second later, her grip tightened and before I knew it, I was slung over passed Visser Three. I landed on my face, but I was out of the circle. Flee, son of Elfangor! she cried as the Controllers attacked. But I couldn't. She just saved my neck and I couldn't just leave her there! Making sure no one was watching, I shut my eyes and demorphed into my hawk form. As soon as I was capable, I flew over—regardless of my injured wing still hurting—as fast as I could and tore at Visser Three's face. It's basically what I do best while being a hawk. It wasn't much, but my consciousness told me I was helping, whether it be fruitless or not.

I looked away from Visser Three's bloody face and searched for the Andalite. I caught sight of her morphing into a leopard. This clearly wasn't her first stop on Earth. She leaped. The force knocked 'Tom' and our 'Principal Chapman' flat. She made a motion to attack the next advancer, but merely leapt in my direction. This was the obvious signal to run (or in my case, fly).

I thought I ordered you to get out of here! she angrily scolded while running at my side.

I know. I just couldn't leave you to face them yourself.

I was born a warrior, son of Elfangor. I can fare fairly well on my own.

How did you know I'm Elfangor's son?

Because I've fought at his side before. she now sounded grim, as if she already knew he'd been killed. I know everything there is about him and his time he had spent on Earth.

But, what are you doing here, of all places?

I recently received a call for aid from Elfangor's younger brother a few days past. We must reach your allies. Where would we find them?

I was now finding it difficult to breathe. The pain in my wing was becoming unbearable, There's a small neighborhood nearby. The other Andalite's there.

You must lead me to him.

Wait… I suddenly collapsed from the ache in my wing. I couldn't fly anymore. Automatically, I morphed back into human. That at least reduced the hurt. But it caused me to land weird, fracturing my arm from the angle that I landed on it. But the Andalite wasn't the least bit sympathetic. She was tough as nails.

Get up, son of Elfangor. The pursuing Controllers came from around a far corner. Get up, or we'll never make it! they ran at us at full speed. If you don't want to be victimized, get up and fly!

"I can't!" I argued, only getting up on my knees. "My wing--I was hit by a Dracon beam! And I just fractured my arm!"

They were halfway to reaching us now, Then, run! You're legs aren't injured, so run! almost to us. Get up, NOW! What would your father think, seeing his only son give up because of a shot wing? You still have a chance, so RUN! I struggled to my feet, pain searing all through and up my arm. Yes. You truly are your father's son. she complimented with satisfaction as we ran to Jake's block.

Gotcha! a black figure suddenly sped by and took me with him.

"Marco?" I asked the black gorilla.

Daddy Marco to you, now. I don't wanna be cuddling you and not get anything outta it.

But I didn't have time to laugh at jokes, "Where's Ax?"

He's chasin' the Controllers away with Cass, Rachel and Jake. Why?

"You remember that old abandoned shack we used when Jake was a Controller? We need to get there fast."

Why?

"I just picked up a new friend. She says she knows Ax and needs to talk to him. The barn isn't safe anymore."

A/N: Did this time round improve? I hope so. And sorry this is kinda short. Review and tell me if it's any better! Remember, I'd appreciate it if I made any mistake that some kindly reader will correct me. Toodle-loo!