(You young fool,) the Tactical Officer sighed. (If you gave the morphing capability to the humans, how did they manage to already be in morph the first time you saw them? Obviously, they were already capable of morphing by the time they discovered you. And, that still would not explain the presence of those two creatures beside you.)
(Doctor, thank you,) Captain Samilin said, after a long moment where Aximili tried to stand as still at attention as he could. (Perhaps you would like to go check on those "humans" of yours. And, see if you can't analyze this Zero-space problem that young Aximili has discovered.)
Watching for a long moment as Doctor Coaldwin left, Aximili found himself all the more discomfited as Captain Samilin leaned in close to him. (Aristh Aximili, I would like to know why you're lying to me.)
(I would never lie, unless...) he trailed off, feeling slightly better as Shara wrapped her right arm around him.
(Unless what, you insignificant aristh?!) the Tactical Officer snarled, and Aximili quickly put a restraining hand on Slade, even as he could feel Shara standing up straighter. (You are addressing a ship's captain!)
(Yes, I know,) Aximili said, knowing also that he was one of the only things standing between the first Andalites he had actually met, and Slade's combative instincts.
(Aristh, have you at any time managed to make contact with the home world?) Captain Samilin asked, signaled for the Tactical Officer to hold his silence.
(Yes, Captain,) Aximili said, feeling himself almost sag with relief, allowing Shara to hold him up even as he did so.
(And, were you given orders at that time?)
(Yes, Captain,) Aximili said, sighing softly.
For a long moment, it seemed almost as though Captain Samilin would ask more, but he seemed to think better of the idea. In a much gentler voice, he continued: (What happened to Elfangor?)
(He was killed,) Aximili said, leaning more deeply into Shara's loose embrace, feeling at least some comfort as she tightened it. (By Visser Three. On the planet's surface.)
xxxxXxxxx
As she listened in on Ax's conversation with the two Andalites – evidently the first he'd actually met since he'd ended up stranded on Earth – Shara found herself wondering just what they were all going to be able to do, now that they'd all ended up on this Andalite vessel, on course to whatever destination it was traveling to.
(Now, I suppose we should address the matter of you,) the Andalite Captain – his name was complicated enough that it had almost completely gone over Shara's head, nearly as soon as she'd first "heard" it – said, and Shara stepped back slightly as she felt Ax trying to straighten up.
(I suppose,) she said, folding her arms as she continued to stare down the two Andalites confronting her, Slade, and Ax.
(Perhaps you should transform back,) Ax said, the worry in his tone coming clearly through the flattening effect of thought-speak.
(You're willing to trust these people that far?) she asked, narrowing her eyes slightly as she considered just how she was going to be able to get Slade to agree to that kind of thing, or even if she would, herself.
(They are Andalites,) Ax said, and Shara had the distinct feeling that he didn't quite understand what she'd been asking.
(Yes, but do you trust them?) she pressed, resisting the urge to fold her arms again, since she didn't know how either of the two Andalites would take it.