(You can do nothing,) Ax said, his unease coming even through the flattening effect of thought-speak. (I told you, the kafit bird that Visser Three used the last time we saw him is from my home planet. There is a chance that our side may be infiltrated by the Yeerks or their allies. If you do make it back to Earth, somehow, you won't survive if the Yeerks know who and what you are.)
"If you make it back to Earth?" Cassie echoed, tilting her head, and wearing a sad sort of smile as she faced Ax. "Meaning, you're not going to come back with us?"
"I have news for you, Ax: if there's some Yeerks that need to have their butts kicked, I'm on it," Rachel snapped, folding her arms and narrowing her eyes defiantly.
(We have to follow the Captain's orders,) Ax said, just that much more unease coming through in his silent tone.
Shara found herself laughing, at those words. "Whose Captain? Certainly not ours. I certainly don't recall being part of any chain-of-command but Jake's."
Glancing over at Slade, as she saw her brother looming up behind Ax, arms folded and a firmly unimpressed look on his face, she made her way over to stand beside him. Given what the pair of them were now, she could at least exert some kind of calming effect on her older brother.
(I am just a lowly Aristh. Like a human cadet,) Ax said, something like desperation coming even through the flattening effect of thought-speak. (I have to follow orders,) Ax said, seeming to be speaking more to Jake than anyone else. (You have to understand: you are no longer my prince, now that I am back among my own people.)
Jake didn't respond to that, at least not verbally, but when Ax turned to leave, he gave her a speaking glance, eyes flickering in their departing comrade's direction. Shara nodded in return, half-closing her eyes as she concentrated on the remaining non-Animorph occupant of the infirmary.
Forcing him to do anything would be counterproductive, since he was more than likely to notice, and so she gently nudged his perceptions away from her and Slade so he wouldn't bother to look over at them as the pair of them turned invisible, leaving the room just a few steps behind Ax himself. Slipping out through the door on Ax's metaphorical heels, Shara turned to glance back at Jake.
(We'll be in touch,) she said, continuing to follow along in Ax's footsteps beside Slade.