| Book 46-The Deception "This is the resistance." I had never heard more pride in Prince Jake's voice. I know I had never been more proud of him. --Jake, Ax Why do I fight for and with a people not my own? Because in many way, these humans have become my own. --Ax "You know what I love about this life? There's never a dull moment. Freakin' never." --Marco But I had made friends. We were our own family. And this was still our fight. I was Andalite. And, in a way, I was human. --Ax "Ax. Do you think the Andalites are coming?" <I do not know, Prince Jake. I honestly do not know.> --Jake, Ax "Okay, the Yeerks want Earth. Well, they can't have it." --Jake "I'm not sure I could live with myself if we didn't do all that we could." "And I'm not sure I could live with myself if we did." ..."I know, I know. But...doesn't it always come down to each one of us, acting all alone, asking ourselves: Am I right in doing whatever it takes for the greater good? And, do I trust myself enough to know I won't become evil in the process? It always comes down to something that personal." ..."If there's one person I trust to keep his decency, it's you, Jake." Marco folded his arms. Nodded at Rachel. "You, we're not so sure of." --Jake, Cassie, Marco <I'm pretty sure the guys in red are crash and salvage crews. Yeah, and explosive ordnance disposal.> <No wonder Rachel likes the red.> --Jake, Marco <What do we get for risking our butts? Nothing. Nada.> <What about the satisfaction of knowing you're protecting the freedom of all human beings?> <Huh. Well there is that.> --Marco, Cassie <Oh, I trust you to be ruthless, Ax-man. Ultra-focused. Heartless, even. What I'm not sure of is what this stunt is all about. Is it really about saving human lives? Or about pumping up Andalite glory.> --Marco I had chanced the lives of thousands of humans for the sake of millions. And in doing so, I had acted as had many Andalite warriors before me. I had presumed. I had meddled. I had acted as I had often condemned. And I had won--we had won--but at what personal price? Would my friends ever forgive me? Would I ever forgive myself? "Would you have done it, Andalite? Would you really have done it?" I was unable to respond. I have enough to answer for. --Ax, Visser Three |