trans_9 | (no subject)

Marco stood near the Garibah tree, just in front of the maze, his arms crossed as he kept an eye out for Tom. He couldn't see the others, but he knew they were there.

He felt jittery, like they always did back in the war before missions. He bit back the compulsion to crack a joke - he couldn't thought-speak one right now, and saying it out loud would look really weird if that just happened to be when Tom was coming along.

Course, Marco was sure Tobias would give them plenty of forewarning. Still - it didn't hurt to be cautious. Especially now. Especially when it was Tom. Marco had seen what Tom's death had done to Jake after the war: Tom's and Rachel's and those seventeen thousand Yeerks. He couldn't change what happened to those Yeerks, and who knew if Ax would be able to change things for Rachel when they got back to their world. If they ever did get back to their world. But here, right now? They could change what happened to Tom. Him they could save. And maybe that would save Jake too.

Marco waited.

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Iniss moved slowly, almost cautiously, hands tucked in the pockets of the hooded sweatshirt that had managed to follow him through the destruction of the world.

There was a strange feeling building in his host, like something was about to happen. Humans would call it a hunch. One of those little moments of feeling like you'd been somewhere before. Deja something or another. He could have fished through Tom's memories to find the answer, but he was honestly feeling antsy and anxious for no reason he could really pin down and ignoring the host.

He paused just out of rage, looking up at the tree with narrowed eyes. "What do you want?"

Tobias was having a harder time staying hidden. He couldn't help Marco and Ax much as a hawk, and he didn't want his human face seen, just as a precaution. He was morphing to hork-bajir and stood a short distance off, close enough to hear what was being said, but not close enough, he hoped, that Tom could easily see him with the other various trees and plants around.

Ax was hidden just inside the maze, waiting. He could see Marco, and as soon as Tom got close enough for Ax to see him, he'd be well within range for Ax to step out and knock him unconscious.

Assuming that he could move fast enough to hit him before Stacy stopped him.

"I want you to meet some friends of mine."

It just so happened that in this instance, 'friends' meant 'people who are going to leap out of the bushes and attack you'.

And now he was just within range.

Ax stepped out of hiding and brought the flat of his tail around toward Tom's temple before a human could even blink.

Iniss had time to identify the Andalite tail-blade swinging towards his head.

He had enough time to realize he'd been betrayed, hand shifting on the backpack as he tried to bring his own weapon into play.

He had enough time to glare, just for a moment at Marco, betrayal evident in his expression.

But an Andalite on it's guard verses an unprepared human teenager isn't a fair contest not matter what universe you're in.

Iniss was unconscious before he hit the ground.

Ax attempted to catch the human as he slumped to the ground, but Andalite arms and hands weren't strong or fast enough to hold him. He also kept a stalk eye out for Stacy's tentacles coming for him, even though he and the others had checked to be sure that this area wasn't within her sight.

< We should get him out of sight as quickly as possible, > he noted.

< Guess I'm up > Tobias lifted him, not feeling much of a strain at all in his muscular hork-bajir body. He too ketp watch for the tentacles, still expecting them at any time.

< let's go >

"Wait a sec," Marco said, stepping forward to pull off Tom's backpack. It thought it suspicious that the Yeerk had chosen to carry it around with him everywhere rather than stash it away somewhere - Marco wanted to know what was in it.

Once he'd gotten the bag, he nodded. "Alright. After you, Bird-Boy."

With no bodily harm forthcoming from the ship, Ax was now focused on making sure that no one had seen them. He hadn't spotted anyone while lunging out of hiding, but he had been primarily focused on getting to Tom before he could pull a Dracon beam.

While Tobias and Marco carried Tom into the labyrinth, Ax moved to check the surrounding area.

Tobias followed Jake, noticing as he did the backpack Marco picked up.

< I wonder what's in there > he commented. < However, Jake should probably be the one to open it. >

"Jake's going to have enough to deal with," Marco said grimly, and concentrated on helping Tobias carry Tom into the maze.

< Yeah, unfortunately > Tobias replied with a thought-sigh.

He was mostly quiet otherwise, though still nervous about the whole thing.

< This just better work. For Jake's sake and the rest of the ship. > he said.