My adoring fans,
Heh-heh. Have I kept you in suspense long enough?
This is the end of the original Trilogy. I am debating how I am to continue this. I don't want to rewrite each book. There are some cases where David's presence makes a difference, and in some cases, not. For instance, I have him morphing a Helmacron in "the Suspicion", which in the long run, doesn't change the outcome of the book. Similarly, in "The Extreme", all his presence changes is that he catches the seals for them to morph.
I also have in mind adventures which revolve around David, including his first meeting with the Ellimist (which happens right before "The Attack"), an adventure which involves him getting sucked into Z-space (a lá "The Decision") and getting rescued by Korla (the species mentioned to be still fighting the Yeerks, but never heard about again. Which book was that by the way??), and you the readers may get a chance to meet Stephanie.
I do promise however that I will do the complete War Saga (45-54) minus 48 of course, because now it no longer happens.
So, I guess, review my story and tell me if there is a specific book, you'd like me to do. And don't say "All of them!" No! Tell me a specific book. Tell me five specific books. I don't care. Just tell me.
Til next we meet,
Augustine Quill
PS. Oh and I just want to make sure you get this. Remember, David's last name is Hunting!
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March 19, 1999 9:03 PM
Once I was fully inside the ship, the claw dropped me roughly. I was hurt. My dorsal fin and left flipper were ripped. My tail was bleeding profusely. My blowhole was choking blood.
I fired some clicks, but they came back distorted. Nonetheless, I got the impression that I was surrounded by armed Hork-Bajir.
Ah! So this night has not been a total waste! I have caught one of the accursed andalite bandits! You wouldn't happen to be the nasty long-nosed creature who nearly stampeded me, would you?
No, I had a horn on my nose. I replied, wondering which elephant he was referring to. Probably Rachel.
Hmmm, even so, with your capture, I will finally take my rightful position as Visser One!
It occurred to me then that yeerks are referred to by their position. By their job. How sad. It is as if they did not have names.
Now, andalite, demorph!
My damaged flippers and dorsal fin retreated. As did my tail. My arms and legs formed under me. My bulk shrank and my newly formed arms and legs pushed me up. My blond hair sprouted on my head. Soon, the last traces of orca were gone. I was human. I was on my elbows and knees. I got up and stared down the shocked Visser. He was staring at me with all four of his eyes, something Aximili told me was foolish. All Andalite warriors are trained to always have one stalk eye scanning.
Well, well, well. The Visser said. The human! Ha Ha Ha. What was it you told me to do? Oh yes, "suck my cock." Which I've been told is a reference to your sex organs. Something all male humans at your age are obsessed with. How primitive, human.
"My name is David Hunting." I said defiantly. I looked at the room I was in. It was the same area that I was in the day before yesterday. It was a lot more spacious without the helicopter here. There was a ring of Hork-Bajir warriors. None as burly as my morph, but I had no illusions. They had the Dracon beams, not me. The Visser was close to me, but his tail was lazily held behind him. After all, what did he need it for? How much damage could a human possibly do? The Visser was out of arms' reach.
Well, then, David. I am willing to let you go and return your parents to you. The Visser said, trotting closer to me. All you have to do is tell me the location of the Andalites' base. What do you say? He said laying his hand on me. No, not his hand, but a hand nonetheless.
Get your damn hand off me you dirty slug! I thought to myself, once again loosely quoting a movie. I grabbed his hand, twisted around and gave a chop to his arm. It broke easily. I gave a roundhouse kick to the Visser's andalite face and he went sprawling. This prompted several Hork-Bajir to advance with their weapons.
NO! the Visser commanded, while getting up and trotting toward me. Let me. I see the human youth is too stupid to be bargained with. I should rip off your head! I instantly found a tail blade to my jugular. The Visser's stolen Andalite nose was bleeding blue-black blood. He was cradling the arm that I broke with his other arm. Again, he was staring at me with all four of his eyes. Foolish.
I had only one chance to attempt this. If I could really control my morphs, I should be able to do this. It had to be fast and sudden. If the Hork-Bajir noticed, I was a dead man. I felt my arm become heavy at a fast rate. STRIKE NOW!!! I struck. The Visser noticed my movement and tried to remove my head with his tail blade.
But he no longer had a tail blade.
Within a second, my entire forearm was Hork-Bajir, blades and all. I used my new blades to sever the Visser's tail.
The Visser was now bleeding profusely. He retreated to the other end of the room. I finished the morph to Ursa Wulvef within thirty seconds. The Hork-Bajir did not make a move.
That's one of Visser One's Blue Bands! Is she in league with your andalite friends, or are the rumors true? The Colony of Free Hork-Bajir exists?
I turned my head toward the wounded visser. No! He was morphing. A large, collared lizard with six front arms and two back legs. I waited until he finished morphing.
He faced me fully morphed.
Let's dance. I said.
The Visser pounced. I dodged and buried a blade in his flank. A tail wrapped around my neck. I severed it and backed up. I removed the tail around my neck. The Visser spat a stream of acid. I swerved and the acid hit another Hork-Bajir.
I tripped on something and sprawled on the floor. Soon the Visser's jaw was in my face. With a windmill kick plus some help from my tail, I was once again standing. I grabbed the disoriented visser's jaw, and clamped it shut with my hands. I swung him around like a heavy bola. I swung him into Hork-Bajir controllers. I swung him into metal crates that were strewn around the hanger bay. Finally, I swung and released him into the far wall.
YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT HUMAN!
I said nothing, but I made a "come here" gesture with my hand. He pounced yet again. I ducked, stuck my blade in the tip of his under-jaw, and let gravity do the rest. I split him end-to-end. The visser lay dying on the floor.
Yeah!!!! Who's the man??!!! I have done what the almighty Andalites couldn't do! I have killed Visser Three!
Two human-controllers who looked vaguely familiar entered the hanger bay. They mirrored the shocked expressions of the Hork-Bajir.
You heard me! I shouted at them. I killed him. Your precious visser is dead! I shouted while dancing around the room like the football player who scored the winning touchdown.
David, watch out! someone shouted. Aximili?
Fighting Visser Three has taught me a valuable lesson: Never leave a morph-capable warrior to bleed to death. If death was not instantaneous, it wasn't death. Merely, a set-back.
I turned around to see the visser fully demorphed. With his tail intact. He swung high. I jumped. Not high enough. He removed my legs. I landed hard on the ground.
Ha Ha Ha! Foolish human. I will enjoy killing you. ARRG! Visser Three said, getting hit with a Dracon beam.
"That was a warning shot, yeerk!" said one of the human-controllers.
You?? You two! Didn't I execute you two yesterday night?
Suddenly, two stalk eyes popped out of the head of the human-controller who shot the beam. It wasn't us!
Aximili and Jake!
Andalites!! the Visser roared.
Aximili was demorphing as fast as he could. Jake just fired, but he was grabbed and thrown into a standing-up crate. Like Dracula's coffin. A Hork-Bajir controller shut him in.
"Akin demorph in that, Hruthin!" said the controller.
Meanwhile, I was dragging my paraplegic self behind a crate. I was hiding. Out of cowardice. I had my moment of bravery, but I was still a coward.
Why, Jake?? Why?? Why couldn't you have let me die with honor??
"Die with honor"? Is that what I've been trying to do? Die with honor? Why else would I have quoted MacBeth? The coward who hid behind the predictions of witches.
Meanwhile, while I pouted, Aximili was being overrun by the Hork-Bajir. Even when the Tiger pounced out of the crate, leaving many controllers confused as to how an andalite could have demorphed in that narrow crate, Jake and Aximili were soon overwhelmed by the yeerks.
Tie them up! If the human child does not show himself, kill them. the Visser commanded. Do you hear that, David? Show yourself! Or they will die!
I was losing a lot of blood. So I demorphed.
He's here somewhere! Tell Ekirt Two-Three-Seven to take off. We have his two friends. We will draw him out.
I peered behind my box. The Visser had it's back to me. To a human that's a safe position, but an Andalite had stalk eyes. I had to be careful.
Stop hiding, you pussy!! They came to rescue your sorry ass. Now return the fucking favor!!
Suddenly, the Blade Ship was rocked hard. I held my positon, but Aximili, the Visser, and several Hork-Bajir fell over. A few of the lighter crates flew.
Arrgh! Something had stabbed me in the leg. I looked down and saw and andalite tail blade in my outer thigh. My blood ran cold. Then I noticed that the tail blade was not connected to anything. I looked at my friends and their captor. The Visser still had his tail blade. Aximili and Jake were tied up with Dracon Beams and Hork-Bajir blades pointed at them, but Aximili still had his tail blade. This must be the tail blade I severed earlier.
What was that?! the Visser roared.
A gigantic worm came into the bay. It was one of those things that attacked me in the water. It let out a string of sputters and spits.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN A LARGE SEA CREATURE IS ATTACKING THE SHIP?????! the Visser roared. I DON'T CARE! BLOW IT APART!!!!!!!
Ahh! screamed someone in pain.
Cassie?
Cassie! Jake yelled.
I guess everyone has a cause that makes them courageous. To some people it is money. To others, it is honor. To me . . . .
It was a girl.
I picked up the Visser's severed blade. I jumped up screaming ferally and stabbed it into the base of his newly healed tail. His tail went limp. I then grabbed his head and put his own severed blade to his throat.
My own blade? MY OWN BLADE??!!
"It isn't your blade, worm!" I hissed at him. "Release my friends! Now!"
No! Not again! This is twice, I've had you! And twice, I've lost you! I will not accept that!
"Except it, Yeerk. You're dealing with a human now. All bets are off!"
I will make you suffer for th- the Visser started. He stopped short as I pressed the blade in slightly harder.
"Shut up. And if I see so much as one of your hairs change color, I'll OJ Simpson your ass. Release the Andalites, now! Or the Visser is dead."
The Hork-Bajir complied. They untied Aximili and Jake. Meanwhile, I acquired the visser. Or more accurately, I acquired his host.
Rachel! Marco! Tobias! Retreat now. Jake commanded, privately. David, why is your arm blue?
We're going. Tobias reported back.
Cassie, pick up those three, then prepare to catch the three of us as we exit the blade ship through the belly hatch.
No problem. I'm remorphed and ready to go.
"Open the belly hatch." I commanded. They complied.
You fools! Don't let them get away! This human child won't destroy me! It isn't in him.
If he fails, I'll do it. Aximili warned.
Ha Ha. The boy won't let you. To a human, it is dishonorable to kill a defeated opponent.
"What makes you think I believe that horse shit?!" I shouted bravely. But it was false bravery. The Visser was right. I had never killed anyone sentient. Sure, I've tried, and I said I would do it, but I had never actually done it. I wasn't sure that I could.
Come on, David. Aximili told me privately. We have him right where we want him. Destroy him, and both our families will be avenged.
I let him go. I couldn't do it. I couldn't be dishonorable.
Dishonorable, my ass. You're a coward, David! I thought bitterly to myself.
Moot point! Killing is wrong. Even if it is the Visser. I countered to myself.
The Visser began to walk away. I knew it. I knew you would never cross the line.
When your mind is divided, it can takes only one pearl of wisdom and/or one stupid comment to unite it.
Cross the "line"? CROSS THE "LINE"?!!
I pulled the Visser back. I stared at his startled stalk eyes as I whispered in his ear.
"There . . . is . . . no . . . line."
I slit his throat.
The Hork-Bajir rushed us. Aximili grabbed me and pulled me to the hatch. The last thing I saw as I jumped into the water was the Hork-bajir carrying the Visser out of the bay. The Blade ship lifted off as I hit the water. Moments later, a floor rose up to meet me, and I was soon sitting on a humpback whale.
"Cassie?"
Yes, it is she. Jake told me.
Rachel and Tobias were there in Hork-bajir morph. Marco was in Gorilla morph. The three of them were cut up pretty badly. Jake and Aximili were also cut up. Cassie had been shot. All to save me.
I looked at Aximili. "He's going to survive, isn't he?"
Yes. He was all ready morphing before we left.
The storm had died. We reached shore and flew collectively to Tobias's meadow. I wasn't sure why just then.
We demorphed.
Jake approached me. "Listen, David. It really was unfair of us to throw you in this war."
"Life isn't fair. What choice did you have? Given the alternative, I much prefer this." I countered.
Jake seemed to be deep in thought. "Guys? Everyone, listen to me." Jake shouted to us. When he got our attention, he addressed us.
"Dealing with David, I've become aware of something. You can't make a person fight. You can't make a person do anything. Every single one of our actions, we've done out of our own free will. I guess this what we are fighting for. Even the slaves of the south had free will, which is why the Underground Railroad was such a success, I suppose. My point is if any of you want to back out, you can."
Everyone just kind of stared at Jake. Aximili and the girls looked surprised. I guess the thought never occurred to them. Marco had some far away look on his face. Tobias' expression was unreadable.
I will not back down! Aximili said. "I have not yet begun to fight!" A human named John Paul Jones said that. I agree.
"As I much as I hate this war. I can't just pretend it isn't there." Cassie said. "I tried that once. Never again."
Out of the five of us who met him that night, I was one who felt closest to Prince Elfangor-Sirinal-Shamtul. I don't know why, but I did. Tobias started. I take back what I said about Tobias's face always being unreadable. There was definitely some emotion in that feathered face. I couldn't do that Elfangor. I couldn't.
"Rachel?" Jake asked.
"Hell, no! I ain't backing out yet." Rachel bellowed.
"While I don't share her blind enthusiasm," Marco said, "I'm not going anywhere."
I noticed a small raptor land on a nearby rock just then. The raptor looked familiar.
"Cassie? Isn't that the raptor we released on Wednesday?"
"Yes. It is the merlin."
"David?" Jake prompted. "Are you going to stay with us?"
I walked slowly to the merlin. I placed my hand on his back and acquired him. My hand grew feathers. When I finished acquiring him, the merlin flew off. I morphed him in forty seconds.
"David?" Jake said again. "Are you with us?"
"The days of a war of leisure are done.
The curse of Hamlet shall not rule o'er me.
Damned be the war; its sins dost shame the sun.
Bless'd be the warr'or who fights to be free.
God-given Liberty is oft let go,
Though Mind and Heart need be free to be whole.
If Righteousness is a sword; be it so.
And may Yah-weh have mercy on my soul."
"That's beautiful, David." Cassie said. "Shakespeare?"
No. I said as I demorphed. When I was human, I smiled cunningly. "Hunting."