Rachel let out an exhausted sigh. “As much as I hate to admit it, Marco’s right. The fleet is not coming to the rescue. The Andalites aren’t here to help save Earth. They’re here so Arbat and the Andalite command can settle their score with the visser. This isn’t the Marines storming in to save us.”
“Exactly!” Cassie said. “It’s personal. It’s political. But there’s no strategic value to the mission. No real military advantage. So that just makes it murder.”
“Hey, Cassie, you know what?” Marco snapped. “Who cares? I mean, who cares about all your moralizing? Are you even paying attention? What do you think, that the six of us are going to win this war? By ourselves? Four kids, a bird, and an alien? Six kids who can turn into animals, big deal! We’ve hurt the Yeerks, we’ve frustrated them, we’ve slowed them down, but we’re pebbles in their shoes. This has always been about us being the resistance until the Andalites could do a D-Day and save our sorry butts.”
I had never heard Marco speak so harshly to Cassie. But more shocking still was that Jake did not step in to silence him.
I had been so distracted by Estrid, by seeing my own people again that I had overlooked how devastating this news would be to my friends. They had hoped for salvation. Instead they were presented with another complex problem, more dangers, more futility.
I scanned each of their faces with my stalk eyes. These were not the humans I had known for so long.
Prince Jake stood. “If the Andalites were serious about helping us, they’d have sent an invading force. And Cassie’s right, they trade Visser Three for some other visser, how does that help us? And Marco’s right, too. We’re tired. We’re so tired there are times I don’t think I can get up the energy to breathe. And now, instead of help, big-time help, we have what are obviously the dregs of the Andalite forces. Gonrod’s a fool. Aloth is just a foot soldier. Estrid’s a rookie. And Arbat’s a guy off on his own.”
“So what’s our plan?” Rachel demanded.
Prince Jake said nothing.
It was sad. That is what I realized. Very sad. We had turned to Prince Jake so many times and always he had been there with an answer, a plan, or at least a hope.
Marco slapped Rachel lightly on each cheek. “Wise up. Any plans we had — or have — are basically worth squat at this point. The war is over. Earth lost.”
The explosion was instantaneous.
Rachel lunged for Marco. “Don’t you EVER touch me again!” she screamed.
Marco fell to the ground and shielded his face with his arms. “Get off me. Get off me, you wacko!”
“Stop it! Stop it!” Cassie cried.
Tobias fluttered to the ground. Laughed bitterly. <That’s it. I can’t take this anymore. I’m losing my mind. I’m out. Out of here, out of this, I’m done, man.> Tobias flapped his wings and flew from the barn.
“All right, stop it, Rachel!” Prince Jake pulled her off Marco. Shook her hard.
Rachel reeled back and raked her hair from her eyes.
Marco stumbled to his feet. “Face facts,” he panted. “The Andalites don’t care. This isn’t about Earth. It’s about boosting Andalite morale by wasting the guy who made an Andalite a host.”
There was a long silence. Everyone looked at me. Staring as if they expected — hoped —that I would deny the truth of what Marco was saying.
“Ax?” Prince Jake prompted.
I shook my head. What was there to say?
Prince Jake frowned. “Then what do we want to do?”
“I know what I’m going to do.” Rachel angrily kicked a metal bucket. It clattered along the dirt floor of the barn.
Two injured geese sent up an alarmed gabble. A small brown rabbit who had been sitting beside a bale of hay dove into a stall and disappeared from sight.
Five or six grackles who had been pecking in the dirt squawked and flew up into the rafters.
“Rachel,” Cassie said quietly, putting her hand on Rachel’s arm. “Please. We need you.”
Rachel jerked her arm from Cassie’s grasp. “From now on I’m doing it my way. No more Geneva Convention warfare. If I’m going down, I’m taking out all the Yeerks I can before I go.”
She stalked toward the door.
“Rachel!” Prince Jake shouted.
Rachel whirled around. Her face red with anger. “I’m through taking orders from you,” she said through clenched teeth. “I’m through with Marco and his stupid jokes. I’m through with Cassie’s hypocrisy.”
Rachel lifted her fist and punched a lantern hanging from a hook. The glass splintered and it fell to the ground.
“I’m through with all of you,” she hissed. And stormed from the barn.
Cassie took a broom from the corner and began to sweep up the glass. “Count me out, too,” she said softly. “If this war is unwinnable, how do we justify killing Hork-Bajir? Basically, they’re prisoners of war. Innocent victims.”
“Cassie,” Prince Jake pleaded.
A tear rolled down her cheek. “I can’t do it anymore.” She dropped the broom and ran from the barn.
Marco thrust his hands into his pockets. “Guess I’m out, too. I’m going to enjoy what time I’ve got left. Acquire a surfer dude chick magnet. Hang out.”
“Marco,” Prince Jake whispered. “Please.”
Prince Jake and I were alone.
We looked at one another. <I am still yours to command.> I offered him my hand to shake as humans do.
Prince Jake gripped it. His eyes were sad. “I can’t hold you to your oath. The others are right. It’s over. Go on. Do what you have to do. And if you can, go home.”
Prince Jake squeezed my hand tightly, forgetting that Andalite hands are not as strong as human hands. I knew it was an expression of affection. I tried to return the pressure.
Prince Jake straightened his shoulders and lifted his chin. “Good-bye,” he said. “And thank you. For everything.”
He walked slowly from the barn. His silhouette disappeared into the bright glare of the morning sun.
I stood alone.
Remembering.
It was peaceful for the first time in a long time. No arguments or debates. Quite pleasant, really.
<Estrid,> I said finally. <If you are going to acquire Earth morphs, you must learn how to use them. Rabbits do not commonly chase large four-footed creatures like myself across a field and then into a barn full of shouting humans.>
Under the bottom slat of a stall gate, the small brown rabbit appeared. Estrid quickly demorphed and blinked with embarrassment at her mistake. <I have much to learn.>
<I will teach you,> I said simply.
Her four eyes looked at me and shone. <You will be happier with your own kind.>
The Andalite ship was cloaked in a large empty field outside the fence of a family entertainment center called The Gardens. I knew The Gardens well. Within it was a zoo where Prince Jake, the others, and I had acquired a number of useful morphs.
We flew there from the barn. Before we left, Estrid acquired an Earth bird morph. A crow. We flew, but far enough apart to allay suspicion.
As we descended, a square “hole” appeared in the sky. The upper hatch of the ship. We flew inside and it slid shut behind us.
<This is the upper deck,> Estrid explained. <Let us demorph and I will take you down to the command deck.>
We demorphed and she led me through the hallways and corridors that connected what seemed to be several wings. It was large for a warship. Small for a transport.
<This ship is designated the Crusader. It’s an MSTL-37,> she explained. <A Mobile Science and Technology Lab ship. Pretty much obsolete by now.>
<An odd choice of ship to send on such a mission.>
She shrugged. <It was what they could spare. The fighters and transports were needed in Nine-Sifter.>
We stood in front of a drop shaft and waited f
or the doors to open. <Estrid, I would like to ask a favor of you.>
Her four eyes looked curiously at my face.
<I still respect my former prince. We fought many battles together. I would appreciate if you would refrain from reporting that he was unable to maintain control of his warriors. I would not want the others to lose their respect for him. He has fought a good fight.>
<You kept my secret. I will keep yours.>
The drop-shaft door opened and I stepped in beside her.
I was uneasy. My request had been a test. But I was not sure whether she had passed or failed.
I felt grateful for her willingness to protect my prince.
But what kind of an aristh would agree to withhold sensitive intelligence information from her superiors?
Had she been instructed to gain my trust in order to spy on me?
Or was she simply undertrained? Unsuited to the military because of her gender?
I resolved to keep my guard up and my eyes open. I watched her fingers dance across a control panel as she programmed in an access code for me.
Her hands were small. And graceful. When she was done, she turned her four eyes on me. My heart rates accelerated.
I had noticed her four eyes staring at me quite a bit.
That, too, was odd.
The first lesson every aristh learned at the academy was: “Two eyes out front. Two eyes scanning.” Always. A soldier never, ever, focused all his attention on the same spot.
The shaft dropped us two decks and held us there. We stepped out onto the command deck. Gonrod, Aloth, and Arbat were waiting.
<Aximili!> Arbat stepped forward to greet me. His voice was welcoming.
I saluted and made the traditional Andalite bow. <Commander Gonrod. My prince has released me and I now pledge myself to you.>
Gonrod appeared mollified by the respect I showed him.
<We are quite informal on this mission,> Arbat said.
Gonrod bristled. <But the chain of command is clear.>
<Of course. Of course,> Arbat said to Gonrod. <I did not mean to imply otherwise.>
Arbat walked over to a workstation where Aloth calibrated a collection of handheld shredders. <With one of these, I hope to destroy Visser Three.>
<How can I help?> I asked him.
Arbat took my arm. Guided me to the terraced perimeter of the deck where we could look out through the windows at the barren scrub grass outside. He thought-spoke to me privately. <I am willing to do anything it takes to destroy Visser Three. Are you?>
<I look forward to the day when Visser Three no longer threatens free people,> I answered guardedly.
<I trust you, Aximili. You have done well to survive here. I hope to benefit from your advice and experience.>
I shifted my weight uneasily. An Apex Level Intelligence Advisor is the highest rank in the intelligence division. An aristh the lowest rank in the regular military. On Earth I had followed, not led. Nor had I succeeded in killing Visser Three. Additionally, I had violated — by word and deed — more Andalite military codes than I could count.
So why was Arbat treating me with such elaborate respect? Respect that I had not earned by Andalite standards.
He wanted something from me.
But what?
Arbat broke off when he heard the heavy clop of Aloth’s hooves approach.
<Aristh Aximili,> said Aloth. <Commander Gonrod has asked me to show you around the ship.>
<Excellent!> Arbat beamed. <Show our new comrade around.>
I saluted Arbat and quickly followed the assassin down the corridor.
<If I hear one more war story from that old wind machine I may have to self-destruct,> Aloth said when the shaft doors closed behind us.
I was shocked. But I could not help chuckling. <How can you talk that way about an Apex Level Intelligence Advisor?>
Aloth snorted. <And retired for the last six wars! He’s a teacher now! A professor of technological history.>
Like many soldiers, Aloth had little respect for anyone who was not a soldier.
<He teaches at the academy?> I asked.
<No! At the University of Advanced Scientific Theory.>
The UAST was full of brilliant thinkers. But they were notorious for their impracticality. Not known for their battlefield skills.
It seemed very strange that the War Council would send an aging professor of technological history to direct an assassination.
But then, the military had obviously undergone many changes since I left the home planet. <Female arisths. Have they worked out well?>
Aloth snorted again. <I keep waiting for Estrid to find some way of making herself useful.>
<Does she have no duties?>
Aloth shrugged. <None that seem necessary. Gonrod and I both tried to make a detour and drop her at a base. But Arbat was adamant that she remain on board.>
<Why?>
He shrugged. <I cannot think of any reason why he would want an inexperienced female aristh on a mission like this. Especially one who is not exactly regulation issue. She behaves more like a princess than an aristh. And Arbat treats her that way.>
Aloth’s lazy insolence was gone now. He seemed lost in troubled thought.
<Does her presence concern you?> I ventured, prepared for him to snub me. He did not.
Instead, he resumed his lazy warrior’s swagger. <I suppose not. She is probably here because inter-gender staffing is some pet project Arbat sold the War Council on. Or maybe she is somebody’s niece and he got her fast-tracked through the academy.>
Aloth gave me a significant look and laughed cynically. I had the feeling I had just missed something. But if that were true about Estrid, it would explain many things.
<I guess none of us are exactly what you would call “regulation issue,”> Aloth added with a wry laugh.
<No? What do you mean by that?>
<Nothing I feel like explaining to an aristh,> he said with a chuckle. <Not even the brother of Elfangor. Now stop asking me questions and listen for a change. You might learn something.>
This was the dynamic I understood. The good-natured snubbing a lowly aristh would expect from an experienced warrior.
<We are on the third tier. There is the engine room. Storage. Quarters. Yours are at the end.>
<What is on the second tier?>
<Nothing. Used to be a lab. Now it is sealed up so we do not have to waste energy on environmental adaptation conversion. Think you can get around without getting lost?>
<I believe I can. Where is my action station in the event the ship comes under attack?>
Aloth shrugged. <This ship does not have enough firepower to stop a broken-down Skrit Na freighter. If a hot Bug fighter comes after us … put it this way: If we’re attacked your action station is kissing your tail good-bye.>
Aloth laughed cynically. I did not see the humor.
<Come on. That is the tour. Let us go back to the command deck. The old wheeze wants to “debrief you.”>
Moments later Gonrod, Aloth, Arbat, and I met on the command deck. Estrid was not present.
<Tell us about Visser Three.> Arbat seemed eager. Gonrod less so. <Where is he when he is not on his Blade ship?>
<I do not know,> I answered. <How did you find him in the newspaper office?>
<We did not,> Arbat said. <We found you. Our ship sensors were programmed to locate your DNA pattern. We were able to download it from your academy records.>
<Could we not do the same with Alloran’s?> I asked.
<Alloran’s from the old days. Back before we used DNA encryption.>
<I see. Then our most likely means of finding him would be at the next meeting of The Sharing at the Community Center. He often attends. Not always. But often. Failing that, he is often in the Yeerk pool complex.>
I explained what The Sharing was, and how Visser Three was often present in human morph to address those who attended. I told them also about the location of the Yeerk pool.
<How many Yeerks would be
present at the meeting?> Arbat asked.
<We are only interested in one Yeerk,> Gonrod snapped. <Our orders are clear and specific. One target. And then we are done. If Aloth can hit the target.>
<Aloth will hit the target,> Arbat said coldly.
<Will I? It is not an easy thing to do,> Aloth said. <Take aim at a target, a living target, aim for the kill, fire, watch to see the damage. Take a life. And this is no ordinary target, Arbat, but your brother. I have a brother, too. I wonder, when the time comes, whether you will find it so easy to give the final order.>
Arbat ignored Aloth. Or tried to.
<It is a question we would all like answered,> Gonrod said.
<It is a question that will be answered when I give that order and rid the galaxy of the Abomination,> Arbat snapped. It was the first time I had seem him lose what my human friends would call “his cool.”
He recovered quickly. <I need as much information as I can gather. May I continue with the questioning of this aristh?>
<Very well.> Gonrod’s permission was grudging. He peered nervously at the various surveillance screens. It was something he did every few seconds. He seemed extraordinarily ill at ease for a commander.
<The Yeerk pool? Would it be possible to gain access?> Arbat pressed.
<We will not go there!> Gonrod insisted shrilly.
Aloth suppressed a snicker.
Gonrod threw Aloth a belligerent look. <The aristh has presented us with a perfectly good target. We will attack this meeting of The Sharing. Tomorrow morning. We will hit Visser Three. And we will leave.>
Arbat opened his hands, as if appealing to Gonrod’s reason. <Commander, if the targets were enlarged, and we were to kill many, perhaps thousands, of Yeerks, surely that would be preferable.>
<There will be no enlargement of the target!> Gonrod snapped. <We carry out our orders. And then we leave.>
I saw Estrid in the arched doorway that led to the exit corridor. <Commander Gonrod,> she announced. <I am going on a tour of The Gardens and would like Aximili to accompany me. He can familiarize me with Earth creatures.>
I drew in my breath. I had never heard an aristh “announce” his plans and desires to a superior officer. Typically, he waited for orders.