Tommy had thought he'd been prepared for the low-level hostility that the dolphin he and the rest of the Animorphs had all morphed felt for the shark that Ax had somehow managed to acquire, but the fact of the matter was that their first encounter with a school of sharks had ended quickly, and in combat. Traveling alongside Ax in his shark morph was something else.
(What is it about the Taxxons that worries you so much?) he asked, after Jake and Cassie had finished telling him about the people that the Yeerks were using to expand the reach of their empire.
He never had the chance to get an answer, before the sight of Taxxons undulating their way through the water towards them drew all of their attention.
(Those nasty worms can swim?!) Marco demanded, though the answer was plain to see in front of them.
Tommy hadn't really expected them to be safe, not with Yeerk ships all around them and Controllers closing in like a noose, but he'd at least thought they'd have some reprieve, given what Ax had said about the capabilities of the Controllers the Yeerks were using. Apparently, he'd have thought wrong.
(Tell me, I have the feeling that the body I'm in may be able to fight,) Ax said, drawing their attention back to him, even as the Taxxons continued closing in. (Is this true?)
Tommy didn't pay much attention to whoever it was who answered him, if anyone answered at all, since he quickly turned to attack the Taxxons who would have otherwise… Well, he didn't quite know what they would do, but they were Controllers, so it wasn't likely to be good. Powering his way through the water, aimed for the nearest of the Taxxons. The sound of one of his fellow Animorphs screaming, just as Tommy had opened his mouth to take a bite out of one of the Taxxons, nearly distracted him from what he was about to do.
When he did bite down, however, Tommy found out just what it was that had startled whoever it was that had screamed: Taxxons, as it turned out, were basically made of tissue paper with organs inside.
(Okay, let's get out of here. They've had enough,) Jake said, once the last of the attacking Taxxons had been dealt with.
(Not so tough, are they?) Rachel asked, clearly trying to sound like the previous slaughter hadn't had any kind of impact on her.
Tommy could understand why: someone had to keep morale up for the rest of them.
