shatterverse | (no subject)

Aximili wasn't entirely sure what had been happening before the bang and the flash. It was like something in between death and a fate worse than death... like being Controlled. "Assimilated", The One had called it. It was the sort of word a Yeerk would use, although Ax was fairly certain that whatever The One was, it wasn't a Yeerk.

And it wasn't trying to assimilate him any more. At least, not that he could see. In fact, all Ax could see was what appeared to be a human city. Not the sort of thing one expects to see when they're dying in a spaceship. But having had more than enough experience ending up in places he didn't intend, Ax reacts quick, finding a secluded place to morph human.

Thus begins his Amazing Wandering Around Springfield Adventure. If only Ax knew he were in the home of that wonderful four-fingered yellow human family. Or had some cinnamon buns. Or an idea why he was still alive.

Well... if he had to stay human, at least he could do something about the lack of cinnamon buns.

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A black SUV rolls over a hill into town. It starts and stops and is generally driven without much skill. There's a young woman in the passenger seat, and if someone were in the right position to see, a boy who looks about thirteen driving.

It takes Ax a while to notice the SUV. He's still a little dazed. But that kind of driving is hard to ignore. So he turns around, intending to say - he doesn't know what, actually - but he plans to say something to the driver.

Then he does a double take. And a triple take. And is going to get run over if he doesn't stop staring soon.

But he just can't believe that he's seeing that thirteen-year-old.

Tobias reaches over and gently touches Rachel's arm. Just to make sure that she's seen the man rushing the car.

It's not anyone he recognizes, but she's been around this place longer than he has.

In a moment, Ax is going to realize he probably should've just said something. Instead, he just holds up a hand. That's the human signal for stopping, right, he's not accidentally doing something very offensive? It's been so long since he's morphed human that he's starting to forget these things.

He hopes he's right. It's not a fitting death for a Prince, a car crash.

Maybe it's been a while since Tobias has seen that particular morph. It's only been a few months for Rachel, and she still only sits up and frowns when Tobias calls her attention to the figure walking toward them.

The way he raises his hand, mechanical and demanding, is strangely familiar.

"Is that..."

No way.

"Sorry for being. Innnnguh. In the way of your transport- tuh- transportional. Deviiicuh." The words come out slow, and to be honest, Ax is a little embarrassed he's still playing with them. But mouth-sounds! It's been so long since he made them. He really can't resist.

He walks to one side of the car, craning his neck up to look at Tobias and... and whomever he's with. (Can't be Rachel, he thinks, she's dead. Although she is blonde and traveling with Tobias... no, couldn't be.) "I thought. Tuh. Perhaps. The boy who I believe is illegaly operatingggguh that device... he resembles someone I know. Oohhh."

Tobias blinks rapidly. It's not something he's done in a while, so it looks a bit odd on his face.

"... Ax?" That... he should have predicted it, really.

Rachel's jaw dropped somewhere in all of Ax's stuttering. Shes still staring at him.

His appearance is not nearly as exciting as Tobias' was.

"Tobias. Sssuh." It doesn't look quite right, the big smile on his face, but there it is anyway. He blinks at Rachel, though. "And.... Tobias's friend. End...?"

"Rachel," Tobias says with a frown. IS IT NOT OBVIOUS?

YES IT IS. Which is why Rachel is frowning.

Though she waves after Tobias introduces her.

"Hi, Ax."

BUT, BUT SHE'S- BUT RACHEL'S-

"Rachellll?" Ax can feel a headache coming on. "...You're dead."

He meant to say hi, really he did.

Tobias doesn't have the experience (anymore) to do complex human facial expressions, so there's no raised eyebrow at that. Even if Ax wouldn't have gotten it.

But there could have been.

"She looks fine to me."

Rachel scowls, annoyed.

"Heart still beating and everything."

No, she is not dead. And doesn't much want to talk about it either. She glances at Tobias before adding, "How long have you been here?"

Ax scowls, too. He's glad to hear she's back, but he and Rachel have never been the best of friends.

"I just arrived." He bites his lip. "Duh. An explanation of what is going on here would be nice."

He'd really rather not mention what he was taken away from. Particularly since he's not sure himself.

Tobias shrugs without saying anything. When hes a hawk, it's an oddly human movement, but somehow when he's a boy it's a very bird-like movement.

Now Tobias is getting scowled at, too. Even if Rachel was good at speeches (she isn't), she doesn't like giving them.

"We're not totally sure," she admits after a minute and nods to the backseat of the SUV. "Get in, we'll tell you on the way."

Ax shrugs, too, which Rachel must be thrilled about. It's crossed his mind that maybe this is all some odd Yeerk trick, but even if it is... he might as well go with the familiar faces.

He crawls in, awkward as heck. It looks, for a second, like he wants to say something. He does - it has been a long time since he's seen either of them. But he's not really the sentimental type, so he just asks, "Ah. How do Iiii operate this?" Seriously, Ax cannot a remember a time they've actually used seatbelts.

"Wrap it across you." Which is not even remotely helpful. Hopefully Tobias' demonstration is better.

Or maybe it would be if he didn't have a shoulder belt while there were only lap belts in the back.

Rachel sighs irritably and unhooks her own belt to stretch back and reach for Ax's. Explanations are for people more patient than she is - Rachel just grabs the belt and hooks it in for him before slumping back into her seat.

"People just randomly appear here. No one really knows why."

"Thank you," Ax mutters, fighting back the temptation to drag the word out for once. He can understand Rachel's lack of patience - he's frustrated, too, being thrown into a situation he doesn't understand again.

"Sorreee for the many questions, but 'here' is Earth. I am assuming. Or at least close to it." See, he's much more comfortable Extraterrestial Travel or Alternate Universes. "Will I need to stay morph- fuh- morphed? So as not to attract enemies?"

Tobias shakes his head. "I don't think it's going to be a problem."

He looks over at Rachel for confirmation.

Rachel shrugs, giving Tobias a bit of a look. It was one thing to morph in the middle of a street, people understood humans and animals. Andalites are another matter entirely.

"I don't think you'll be attacked, but people might freak out."