The New Times #3: The Pain of Loss
By: Meg
Chapter 1: Tobias
"Hey Tobias!"
I turned around and
smiled as Rachel, my friend, girlfriend, and fellow Animorph, came to check
on me. If you're reading this, you already know all that gung-ho save-the-world
stuff. But what you may or may not know is that about a week and
a half ago, 4 new Andalite arisths, warrior-cadets, gave me the ability
to morph, plus being a human again! And I had discovered that, through
a quirk in the technology (or maybe just the Ellimist's interfering), I
could stay in my hawk form as long as I wanted and I could morph to and
from that form (it can act as my natural form). I also look like Cassie
when I'm morphing! It's getting a little weird.
Don't even start on
how I discovered that could use my hawk form as my natural form!
As I was saying, there
are 4 new Andalites.
Dev, the most vocal
Andalite, seems to despise humans. His shorm, Xelt, isn't as loud and tends
to follow Dev's lead. Insith is a medium-size Andalite that hasn't spoken
a word to anyone. He seems sad. The lone female, Henra, is also quiet,
and she and Xelt don't seem to despise humans as much. I think she likes
Dev and vice versa, but I haven't been able to tell.
Ax didn't really get
along with them. Part of that, I'm sure, is that because Jake was Ax's
Prince, he had to be the arisths' Prince!
With Dev's despising
humans as he did, that caused.... uneasiness.
Plus, they were disgraced
so badly that they're 2nd-and-3rd names were taken from them. I know Ax
was glad to be promoted to Warrior, and stunned to be a Prince, even temporarily,
but he was bound to be disappointed that all he got under his command was
a bunch of cadet screw-ups. They never told him how they were disgraced,
though.
And me? They tolerate
me, I guess. Dev isn't as mean to me as he is to the other Animorphs, and
I know that Xelt and Henra like me, they're very friendly.
Anyway, Rachel came.
"How're you doing?" she asked with a smile so bright it could've melted
ice.
"Good" I said, smiling
back. After a week and a half of being human, showing expressions naturally
was coming back to me without me having to think about it.
Almost.
"So, I was wondering,
a movie tonight and pizza after?" she asked, still smiling.
"You're on!"
Chapter 2: Rachel
Our date went great. During
the movie, he held my hand the entire time. Then, when he walked me home
and we got to my house...Well, I won't go there. Let's just say it's great
to have him back.
The next day, we were
all assembled at Cassie's barn. Tobias was in hawk morph, up in the rafters.
We decided to have him morph so he could watch for Cassie's mom or dad,
and he didn't have to remorph.
I know it's silly and
you're going to say 'What? Xena: Warrior Princess is worried?' But seeing
him up there, perching like he used to, I can't help but remember when
he was trapped, and that he was trapped now.
Put it out of your
mind. Forget it, I told myself firmly.
"The Sharing is tunneling
in the construction site," Jake said once we were all assembled. "Supposedly
to bury a time capsule, or some other crap like that. What's more, the
entire town is invited to the burying!"
< Oh no > Tobias
said matter-of-factly.
< Why is this bad?
> Asked Xelt.
< Because the main
Yeerk Pool is under the site. > Insith said, speaking for the first time.
We all more or less
stared at him in awe for about 20 seconds.
"What's more, the governor
and a lot of minor politicians from around here are going to be invited."
Jake went on finally, breaking the silence.
< Wow, they're really
going for a grand slam, aren't they? > Tobias asked rhetorically from the
rafters.
In my mind's eye, I
could see it. The way the hole would be uncovered. They would lower a capsule
in. When the arm that lowered it came up, it would come up with dozens
of Hork-Bajir. Everyone would be captured. Then....
< But we can expose
them! > Tobias said excitedly. 14 pairs of eyes snapped around to stare
at him.
Tobias proceeded to
outline a plan. It was risky, crazy, and about a million things could go
wrong.
And, God help us, we
all liked it.
Chapter 3: Ax
< That sounds like a
good plan, militarily sound. > I said to Prince Jake. "We'll do it then!"
he said.
< What are your
orders, Prince Aximili? > Sneered Devilin. I gave the mental version of
a sigh. < Follow the plan that Tobias laid out. > I said formally. <
Attack with the humans. If anything happens to me, Tobias is your
new Prince. > I said.
I would have said Prince
Jake, but I was afraid of Dev's reaction. If he got too provoked, he could
attack me, and I wasn't sure I would be able to hold back, either. I've
gone tail-to-tail with Visser Three, and my brother instructed me. He had
minimal training, probably from some bored Warrior with better things on
his mind than instructing some insignificant aristh.
I was right to worry.
I got a response, but not the physical kind.
< As you wish, my
PRINCE! > Devilin sneered. Without saying anything else, he ran out.
< I'm sorry > Xeltos
said. Then the other Andalites, beside myself, left too.
Devilin had to work
this out with his friends, and I was not counted as one of them.
Chapter 4: Dev
My first REAL battle!!!
I felt like I could take on the entire Yeerk Empire, single-tailed! Then
I realized that
Prince Aximili would put us under Prince
Jake's command. I snorted at that thought. The greatest human Prince
would not come close to the leadership
ability of the least-trained aristh in our military.
< Devilin, what's
the matter? > Xeltos asked. Henralina followed him into the clearing.
I don't know where
Insithins was. Since he feels responsible for some of our shaming, I'm
not as close to him as I am to the others.
< Why, WHY, WHY
does Prince Aximili, an Andalite, take orders from a human? It doesn't
make
SENSE!!!!! >
< Why does it bother
you? > Henralina asked, sincerely concerted.
< Because Andalites
are, or should be, lords of the galaxy!!! > I sneered. < We are obviously
better than any other race in the galaxy! >
< Then I guess you're
better than the rest of us, huh? But that's not the point. I thought you
learned long ago we're not infallible. At the Academy- > Henralina said
in a hurt voice, but couldn't go on.
Without a word, Xeltos
galloped from the clearing.
< Henralina... I'm
sorry... I.... > To make amends and leave me time to organize my thoughts,
I kissed her.
I was totally unprepared for what happened
next.
Chapter 5: Henra
He kissed me! I felt like
I was on fire. I responded. I responded with a surge of passion I'd kept
long-hidden from everyone else.
We kissed for some
time (not long enough).
< Devilin, can we
take it slow? > I asked, pulling back.
< Sure > he replied,
smiling.
Without a word, but
side by side, we galloped from the clearing to find Xeltos and Insithins.
Chapter 6: Jake
I was sooo nervous it wasn't
funny. I peddled to Cassie's.
I had confessed my
idea to Marco before, and he said go for it. "Cassie?" I asked.
"In here" she answered,
meaning in the barn.
I went in. "Cassie...I
mea,...well, I'm asking you.... ummmm...."
"Jake." she said. "Breathe.
Organize your thoughts."
"Cassie..." I said.
Then it all came up in a rush. "Cassie, willyougooutwithme?" I asked her
quickly.
Chapter 7: Cassie
I just stood there with
my mouth hanging open for about 2 minutes. Jake finally asked me out!
He noticed my expression.
"That's OK, you don't have to...." he said, clearly disappointed. His shoulders
slumped. He turned to leave. "Wait, Jake...."
"Yeah?" he looked back.
"Does this answer your
question?" I leaned over and gently pressed my lips against his.
"So, I'll pick you
up at 8:00 on Saturday for the movies?" he asked breathlessly.
"Sure," I grinned.
"OK, see you!!!"
I went inside and told
my parents. They said OK, though my dad didn't look too sure about it.
Chapter 8: Marco
Jake called me that night.
He was fairly JUMPING with happiness. I was happy for him, really. At the
same time, I couldn't help feeling a little jealous. I mean, Tobias and
Rachel are a couple, and now Cassie and Jake? I felt a little left out.
Just a LITTLE. I had no clue what would happen in the next few days, the
people I would meet or how they would change my life. But that's another
story...
Chapter 9: Jake
It was the next week. We
were all set to go to the construction site.
"OK, guys. Bird morphs" I
said, and then started to change.
< Prince Aximili?
> Asked Insith.
Ax sighed. < Bird
morphs> he said. I swear Dev rolled his eyes.
We were done morphing.
Problem was, we had overlooked something. < Jake,
they all MORPHED non-Earth bird morphs
> Tobias said, emphasizing morphed. I sighed to myself. Another one of
Dev's backhanded insults, no doubt.
< OK, well, too
late now. This will take split second timing. Too late. > I said, but I
had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. If a Controller saw us, we
were sunk. I muttered some curses to myself.
We flew to the construction
site. We all morphed battle morphs, Tobias morphed polar bear, and the
Andalites stayed themselves.
Chapter 10: Cassie
The battle went fine. We
made sure that the civilians were gone from the site, and we trashed it.
[A/n: so I didn't EXACTLY have a plan! It's irrelevant for the story!]
Then he came, along
with the Yeerk cavalry.
We were boxed into
a corner. < OK, guys, we need to retreat. > Jake said.
< How? > Asked Ax,
slightly rearing to get a good look at our position.
Then Visser Three spoke.
< It appears I have
you at last, Andalite bandits > he said. He started morphing some deadly
morph.
< OK, guys, on the
count of three, we go straight for Visser Three. Right at him > Jake said.
< NO! > Dev yelled.
< That is both suicide and dishonorable. >
< Since when are
YOU an expert? > Marco demanded. < You're NOT one to talk. If you'd
been in HALF the battles I've been in, you'd know it's the best thing to
do! He's weakest in mid-morph! Besides, who are YOU to talk about
dishonor?!?! >
Dev's tail twitched
at the insult to him.
Just then, a Hork-Bajir
accidentally set off his Dracon beam. It hit Ax. Luckily, he was still
alive. It was set on stun.
But Visser Three didn't
know that. < You IDIOT!!! > Raged Visser Three. < I wanted them all
ALIVE!!!! > In a moment, he had that Hork-Bajir's blood staining his tail
blade.
< OK, back to the
plan, > Jake said. < Cassie, see if you can revive Ax. The rest of you-
>
< No! > Dev yelled.
< Prince Aximili is gone, you are only a human. Therefore, I am in command
here. I have a better plan-attack! >
< NO! > Jake yelled.
he said, and lunged at Dev.
However, Dev's tail
blade came up and pressed against Jake's throat.
Dev yelled < I've
had it with you, you human pretender of a Prince! You think you deserve
the title! You know NOTHING!! The Andalites are the best race in the galaxy!
You don't have the leadership skills my DUNG has! Admit it, you farce!
Or pay the price!! >
< Are you INSANE??!!
> Marco demanded. < And you said JAKE'S plan was suicide?? You moron
you're gonna get us ALL killed! >
It was us against like
50 Hork-Bajir, and him, in God only knows what awful morph. And Dev was
about to kill Jake.
Chapter 11: Ax
I woke up at that moment.
< Aristh Devilin!
> I yelled. < Get your tail blade away from his throat! >
< Why? > asked Devilin
insolently.
Just then, Henralina
intervened. < Sorry, Devilin > she said as she hit him with the flat
of her blade. He went stumbling back.
Prince Jake leapt to
his feet, and, snarling, he knocked Devilin down. He said something to
the aristh in private thought-speech. I do not know what he said, but after
that, Devilin seemed completely submissive.
Chapter 12: Jake
< If you EVER do that
again- > I said furiously in private thought-speech to Dev.
< You won't be alive
> he interrupted. I snarled and dug in my claws, just breaking the skin
a little.
< Maybe not, you
little worm, > I said, < but the rest of the Animorphs and Ax will be.
They'll punish you-maybe even kill you. And, I'm sure your vaunted Xelt,
Insith and Henra will side with me. You disobeyed orders from a
"superior officer"-and don't tell me that
I'm not your superior. Ax calls me Prince, therefore, I must be your Prince.
Beware, you little son of a bitch, because I will have my eye on you! >
I let him get up then.
< We have to go straight towards the Visser > I said to everyone.
< Yes, > they said.
Although, I knew in my heart of hearts it was too late-the Visser was finished
morphing.
Chapter 13: Insith
We ran straight towards
Visser Three. However, he had morphed an Antarean Bogg morph. I knew then
what my life-prophecy meant, what I had to do.
< Everyone! > I
yelled. < Stay clear! Get away! Leave! > I roared.
< What are you going
to do? > the human Rachel asked me.
< What I must. What
was meant for me to do. >
I ran straight towards
the Visser. I heard the Son of Elfangor yell, < What's he doing? >
< What his life-prophecy
is. > I heard Henralina say, eerily calm.
< Then we must not
interfere > Prince Aximili said quietly.
< WHAT? > demanded
the human Cassie. < I'll explain later, for now, let's GO! > yelled
Prince Aximili. I saw them run away, towards the woods. I ran towards Visser
Three. I saw one of his hands come down. I dodged. I sliced at it
with my tail. However, at the risk of over-balancing himself, he kicked
at me.
I flew thirty feet,
stunned. I heard a CRACK, and realized that I had broken one of my arms
and part of my tail blade. I got up, though, and turned to see if the others
made it out, while keeping my stalk eyes on the Visser.
THAT was my fatal mistake.
I saw a movement. I
turned around, and saw one of the morph's hands sweeping at me. I sliced
the same hand again.
But my luck was up.
As that hand withdrew, the other hand was coming down from 40 feet in the
air. I had enough time to swivel one stalk eye, and see that everyone made
it out.
Then the hand crashed
into me, and I saw-and felt, for that matter-nothing at all.
Chapter 14: Xelt
Everyone was quiet. Finally,
Marco exploded < WHAT WAS THAT ALL ABOUT? >
Prince Aximili said.
Once everyone was down, the humans turned towards my Prince.
< Sometimes, if
a seer is present at a birth, the seer will give a child a life-prophecy.
It tells what things the child will do, gives the parents, basically, their
life, and it details how they will die. However, most often the life-prophecies
are sketchy and cryptic. And a seer is born very rarely-about one every
two millennia. Insithins
was lucky he had a life-prophecy-that
seer, Arahtalra-Nalan-Galuit, died the next day. No other Andalites here
had a life-prophecy. >
< Insithins's life-prophecy
wasn't sketchy at all, though. It was that he would have the ultimate disgrace,
die allowing others to escape the Abomination, and be UN-disgraced when
he was dead. > I spoke up, my hearts
heavy with grief for my fallen friend.
< Well, he certainly
deserves to be UN-disgraced > Prince Aximili said. < Doing what he did,
he is a hero. >
< I think he deserves
to be made a Prince or a War-Prince. >I said. < However, since that
is impossible, I think he would settle for being UN-disgraced. >
I felt grief that he
was gone, however, somehow I knew he went to a better place, Ashnarava,
the place where most Andalites believe fallen heroes go.
< What were his
last 2 names? > Prince Aximili asked me privately.
< Insithins-Cooraf-Enilon.
> I said.
< Then let it be
known > Prince Aximili said in open thought-speech, < that I, as Garrison-Prince
for this world of Earth, relieve Aristh Insithins-Cooraf-Enilon of all
his disgrace. When the rest of the fleet comes, I will also try to arrange
for him to be granted Warrior status posthumously. >
There was a solemn
silence. < And, the rest of the arisths > Prince Aximili said, <
WILL accept orders from the human Prince, Jake, without prompting from
me. Is that clear? > he said, looking straight at Devilin.
< Yes my Prince
> we replied as one.
Then the Animorphs
left. < Dismissed, except for Aristh Devilin > Prince Aximili said.
I felt sorry for my shorm. I wouldn't want to be in his hooves.
Chapter 15: Dev
< Devilin > Prince Aximili
said, < What you did today was foolhardy, irresponsible, and idiotic.
You could've gotten everyone killed. As it was, if you hadn't staged your
little coup, Insithins might've lived to fulfill his life-prophecy another
day. I NEVER want to see that happen again. Do you understand me? > he
questioned.
< Yes, my Prince.
> I had never been afraid of Prince Aximili, but now I was pretty much
cowering. Added to that, I was EXTREMELY guilty. What if my Prince was
right? What if I HAD caused Insithins's death?
< All right. Dismissed.
>
Chapter 16: Henra
< Henralina! > I heard
Devilin shout behind me.
I came to a halt. <
Devilin, I'm sorry about today, I- >
< Don't be > he
interrupted me. < You did the right thing. >
I leaned over and kissed
him. He kissed me back, and I knew I had been forgiven for hitting him,
even if it was for the good of the team.
Chapter 17: Dev
Later that night, I knew
what I had to do.
I snuck away from the
rest of the Andalites, to a secluded clearing. I said, I knew that what
Aximili had said was right. I had to do this.
And there was no way
I could say goodbye to them without them stopping me. I couldn't allow
them to do that. Better for them to find me realize what I did. At least
then I would be spared the ritual asking of forgiveness, and
the public shaming. I thought of my father.
He would be shamed I was doing this in secret, not the normal way.
Stop thinking of him,
Devilin. Do you TRULY want to die in sorrow?
The clearing was far
enough away from the others that even if they heard me, they would not
be able to arrive until too late.
I continued. I stopped
there, as was customary. There was still time to change my mind. But I
decided that doing so would have done no good. Who would end up the next
to pay for what I had done?
Henralina, the only
woman I loved? My shorm, Xeltos, who was as a brother to me? My Prince,
Aximili? One of the human morphers who had been so instrumental in holding
down the Earth situation?
I continued. < Although
there is no way that I can truly atone for my sins in this world, maybe
I can in the next. I,
Devilin, Andalite warrior-cadet,
offer my life to atone for the taking of Insithins's, which was meant to
be my own. >
I brought my tail blade
up to my neck. I felt a small prick, then began to draw blood. It wouldn't
be long now; at least I wouldn't-
< Devilin???! NOO!
>
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