Animorphs

The Decision

Converted to E-Book by:

Kamal Raniga

My name is Aximili-Esgarrouth-

Isthill.

I don't know if my fellow Andalites will

ever recognize that name. I guess some of the story I'm about to tell will appear in the scientific journals. I mean, the accident that occurred to me has certainly rewritten the science of

Zero-space mass extrusion during morphing.

But I doubt that my real name will be used. I doubt that the whole truth will be told. And I guess that's a good thing. You see, there are traitors among us. Yes, traitors among

our fellow Andalites. Andalites working for the Yeerks.

I am the only living Andalite witness to the Ascalin incident. Only I--and my human

friends, Prince Jake, Cassie, Tobias,

Rachel, and Marco--know what truly happened

aboard that ship on war-torn planet Leera.

And even though I know what happened, I will never know why it happened.

I know it seems impossible even to conceive of Andalites as traitors. I know the very idea

makes any decent Andalite sick inside. But

I am telling the truth. The Ascalin incident happened. We were betrayed by one of our own.

My name is Aximili-Esgarrouth-

Isthill, brother of

Elfangor-Sirinial-Shamtul. And I swear

by his memory that everything I say here is true.

I am the only Andalite presently located

on planet Earth. Don't bother looking Earth

up on any of the databases. You won't find

much information. The truth is, we lost a Dome ship in orbit above this planet. The Yeerks

destroyed it. We lost my brother, Prince

Elfangor, in that battle, too. But before he died, Elfangor broke our law and gave the

secret Andalite morphing power to five human youths.

The Yeerks are after this planet now. They are invading Earth in their usual style. The Yeerk parasite slugs have an easy time entering human heads, wrapping themselves around human brains.

Enslaving humans as they did the Hork-Bajir

and the Gedds. As they hope someday to do to us.

I live among these humans now. With the

group of young humans who were given the morphing power by Elfangor. They call themselves

Animorphs. They resist the Yeerk invasion of Earth. All alone, as far as we know.

I live with humans. I respect them. But

my hearts are still Andalite. No matter what anyone ever says about me and about what happened on Leera, I am true to my own people.

And yet there are times when I wonder: Who are my own people? My race, my species? My

family? My friends? My allies?

My human friends insist on reducing my name

to "Ax." You see, humans communicate by making mouth-sounds. (most Andalites understand the concept of a "mouth," I believe.) And although my full name is easily pronounced in Andalite

thought-speak, it is somewhat long and complex for primitive human mouth-sounds.

I am alone on this planet. The only one of

my species. The only Andalite among all the

humans. So I have used the morphing technology to create a human morph. And sometimes, for two hours at a time, I become human and pass

among humans as one of them.

I am very good at passing for human, if I

say so myself. I have learned the customs and habits perfectly so that I seem entirely

normal.

That's how I am able to pass even in the most human of places. For example, the mall. Which is a place full of shops, most of which sell artificial skin and artificial hooves.

Technically known as "clothing" and "shoes."

The mall also houses the most wonderful eating places. You see, in addition to making sounds with their mouths, humans use them to eat. They place foods into the mouth opening and grind the foods with teeth while adding saliva. This involves a

sense called "taste."

Taste is very, very powerful.

Oh, yes.

I was wearing artificial skin and artificial hooves like a human. I approached the counter of my very favorite eating place.

"Hello," I said, making mouth-sounds with my human mouth. "I will work for money. Muh-nee.

Mnee."

I should explain: Money is a sort of

abstract human concept. You give amounts of

money to various people in society and they in turn give you useful items.

"Do you want to order something?" the human said to me.

"I require money so that I may exchange it for the delicious cinnamon buns," I

explained.

The human blinked his eyes. "So ... you do want to order, or you don't?"

Obviously this was a less-intelligent

human. "I wish to perform labor, lay-ber, lay-burrr, and to have you give me money. Then I wish to use that money to acquire delicious

cinnamon buns. Bun-zuh."

"I'll get the manager."

"Bun-zuh," I said. I find the z sound especially enjoyable. It tickles the mouthparts.

Many sounds are amusing.

The manager came and I explained my

request to her.

"Well, I can't give you a job," she said.

"I think you're under age. But I guess if you're hungry I could have you clear some of those tables and give you some food."

This was acceptable to me.

"Poor kid," she said to the other human as I turned away. "A little off in the head, maybe.

But a good-looking boy."

I soon discovered what she meant by clearing tables. In this part of the mall there are many tables, surrounded by eating places. The tables were littered with delicious things!

On the first table I found thin, crisp,

salty-greasy triangles covered with a bright yellow secretion. I ate them and they were very good.

On the next table were liquids. I drank

them. One was hot, one was cold. Along with the liquids was a square of crumpled paper.

Smeared inside the paper was a reddish,

semiliquid product. I licked it. It was

fine, but not wonderful.

Then at last, I saw what I wanted.

Two large, steaming hot, glistening cinnamon buns. Two humans were sitting very near the

cinnamon buns.

They were going to eat my buns!

I raced over as quickly as my wobbly human

legs could go. "I am clearing these tables!" I cried.

The humans looked at me. "We haven't

even eaten yet."

"Good," I said, relieved. I grabbed the two cinnamon buns and carried them away.

"Hey! Hey, stop!"

I began to shove the first bun into my mouth.

Oh, the joy! Oh, how can I even explain

to an Andalite who has never possessed the sense of taste? The sensation! It was a pleasure beyond any pleasure imaginable. The warmth, the

dripping, sweet goo of the cinnamon bun!

"What are you doing?" the manager cried as she came running over.

"I amm glearing khe khables," I said. It is very difficult to speak while eating. Just one of the many design flaws in humans.

"I am terribly sorry," the manager said to the humans who were trying to take my cinnamon buns. "I'll get you two fresh buns. And you," she said, pointing one of her powerful-yet-stubby human fingers at me, "come with me."

She pulled me away, causing me to drop a

small portion of the bun from my mouth. She took me into the eating place and made me sit on a chair. This involves bending the two legs and resting the weight of the body on a raised platform by pressing the fatty pads at the top of the legs against the platform. It's hard to visualize unless you've seen it.

"Okay, now look, son, if you're that

desperate for food, there's a tray of buns here that are just a bit stale. You can help yourself. You poor kid."

She indicated a square array of cinnamon

buns. Perhaps a dozen in all!

"For me?" I asked in a voice choked with emotion.

"Sure, son. Go ahead and have one."

Let me make one final point here: human

mouth-sound language is very fuzzy at times.

"Have one," she'd said.

One mouthful? One bun?

One tray?

It was certainly not my fault if there was any confusion.

"So there I am," Marco said. "Cruising through the food court, minding my own business, thinking, Hey, why not snag a taco? when I

notice the paramedics and this crowd all

gathered around the Cinnabon."

Marco is one of my human friends. He is

shorter than some humans of his age. He has

dark hair and dark eyes and likes to make

jokes. Jokes are humor. Humor is more

common among humans than among Andalites.

I think they have to resort to humor. It helps them deal with the embarrassment of being so wobbly on their two ridiculous legs.

"And I swear, it was like this sudden, psychic feeling. I knew, I mean, I knew somehow

the Ax-man was involved. So I go over and ask someone in the crowd what's happening. And she says--"

"She?" Rachel interrupted. "Let me guess. Some good-looking girl who normally would never even talk to you? But you figured since there's a medical emergency that would be a good time to hit on her?"

"Exactly," Marco said.

Rachel is a female. She has gold

hair and blue eyes. She is tall for her

age.

"Anyway, she tells me, "Some kid went crazy and ate an entire pan of cinnamon

buns." Now, who, I ask you all, who do

we know who would eat an entire pan of cinnamon buns?"

Marco, Rachel, and the others--Prince

Jake, Cassie, and Tobias--all looked

at me and stretched their mouths horizontally to make grins. All except Tobias, who is

a nothlit: a person trapped in morph. He

is a hawk and has no lips.

I felt I had to say something. I was not

aware of the precise specifications for human stomachs,"; I explained. It seems there is some sort of limit on the quantity that may be consumed. Passing that limit caused an

unpleasant sensation in the stomach area. It also caused me to become dizzy.";

"The sugar rush of all time," Cassie said.

Cassie is no taller than Marco. She

has dark hair and eyes. Cassie is very

interested in animals. By "animals,"

humans mean all animals aside from themselves.

I was out of my human morph and back in my

own body. We were in the forest that begins at the edge of Cassie's farm. This is where I live.

Tobias and me both. He eats mice,

mostly in the morning. I leave the forest at night and go running across the fields, absorbing grass through my hooves, the way any sensible creature should.

We were waiting there in the woods for the arrival of a strange ally: Erek, the Chee.

The Chee are a race of androids. They were

created by a now-dead race called Pemalites.

The Chee and the last remaining Pemalites came to Earth thousands of years ago. They were escaping the devastation of their home world. The Pemalites did not survive. Their principled,

non-violent, but shockingly powerful androids did.

Prince Jake looked at his watch.

Humans are always lost in time. They are

constantly certain that "x" is later or earlier than they thought. I have never known a human to say,

"Oh, look, it's exactly what time I thought it was."

Prince Jake said, "I was about to mention that Erek was late, but I guess it's still earlier than I thought it was."

You see what I mean.

He's coming now,"; Tobias said. He can

move very quietly when he wants to. But I can see him from up here.";

Hawks have excellent hearing and really

extraordinary powers of sight. But still, they can only look in one direction at a time, just like humans.

Erek approached--exactly on time, of

course. He appears to be a normal human

boy. But of course that is merely a very advanced holographic illusion. Beneath the hologram is an android of gray and white metals, somewhat resembling an Earth dog walking on two

legs.

The Chee are incapable of violence. A

prohibition against violence is written into their programming. Yet with our help, Erek was once able to disable that programming. He saved our lives in a terrible battle. But he chose then

to surrender the power to do violence.

However, even though they cannot do battle, the Chee have managed to infiltrate the Yeerk

organization on Earth. And from time to time Erek brings us useful information.

"Hi everyone," Erek said.

"Hey, Erek," Marco said.

"What's up?"

Erek shrugged, exactly like any other young

human of his apparent age. "Not much. Just something strange. Something that doesn't make sense. At least not as far as we can see."

Prince Jake nodded. He looked up at

Tobias. "Are we clear?"

Tobias dropped from the branch he was on,

flapped his wings, and soared above the treetops out of sight.

"Sorry," Prince Jake said to Erek. "I want to be sure we're safe."

Erek made an amused grin. "Do you think I came alone? Three of my people are spread out around us, keeping watch. Tobias will never spot them, not even with his eyes."

"Oh? Want to put some money on that?"

Prince Jake asked.

Tobias flew back and landed on the same

branch. He began to calmly preen his feathers.

All clear.";

"You didn't see anything at all?" Prince Jake asked, sounding disappointed.

Well, I saw two Chee projecting

tree holograms, and another one trying to pass himself off as a rock, but nothing to worry about."; The humans and Erek all laughed.

I know these woods,"; Tobias said

smugly. ally think you can just park some big old holographic willow tree where it doesn't

belong and I won't notice? Puh-leeze."; Erek did a sort of bow toward Tobias.

"Remind me never to underestimate you, brother hawk." Then, suddenly serious, he told us what he'd come to say.

"The second-ranking guy in the Secret

Service, a man named Hewlett Aldershot the

Third, is in a hospital in a coma. He was

hit by a car while walking across the street. We don't know why he's here in this area. But we do know this: No one even knows he's in the

hospital."

"His family doesn't know?" Cassie

said.

"No. No one. Not his family, not his boss, Jane Carnegie. No one. The hospital is

heavily infiltrated by Yeerks. Half the staff are human-Controllers. His name isn't even in the hospital computers. And, oh, by the way, the car that hit him? A minivan belonging

to none other than our friend Chapman."

Prince Jake nodded. He is the leader of the

Animorphs. I consider him to be my prince.

As an aristh, I require someone to be my

prince.

"Well, well," Prince Jake said. "I guess we'd better check it out."

I have a question,"; Marco said. If you already have a Hewlett Aldershot and a Hewlett

Aldershot, Jr., what kind of parent is going to go and inflict that name on a third kid? He must have gotten beat up after school every single day of his life.";

It was the next day. Marco, Rachel, and I

were on the ledge of a third-story window. We were in seagull morph. According to my human friends, seagulls are like pigeons. They can go anywhere without looking suspicious.

I am sure they are right. Although I have no idea what a pigeon is. Nor can I imagine

what a "suspicious" bird might be.

I'm just saying for all we know, Chapman just ran this guy down because he couldn't stand that name."; Rachel sighed. Why does Jake make

me go on missions with you, Marco?";

What, I shouldn't talk? I shouldn't make

conversation? We've been hanging around on this stupid ledge for an hour and a half. Me, you, and Ax.";

Just an hour and a half?"; Rachel said.

Funny, it seems so much longer. The time when you're talking just drags on and on and on,

Marco. On and on and on and--";

Very funny.";

Actually, it has only been one of your

hours and eighteen minutes,"; I said

helpfully.

One of our hours,"; Marco said. ally

know, they really are your hours now, too. This is Earth. You're stuck here. Go ahead and set your watch to local time.";

Marco was bored. We all were. But Marco

gets snappish when he's bored.

We were on the sill outside the private

hospital room of Hewlett Aldershot the

Third. This was our second shift on the

windowsill. We'd done a shift earlier

in the morning, waiting for close to the two-hour limit. Then Prince Jake and Cassie had

taken a turn, then it was back to us.

This is so totally not what I want to be

doing on a beautiful Saturday with major

sales on at Express and Old Navy,";

Rachel complained. It's my turn to go fly

around. Be right back.";

She flapped away, leaving me and Marco.

We fluttered our wings a little and jerked our heads and marched back and forth on the stone sill. We were trying to act like seagulls. That's why Rachel had to fly off. It was the right thing for a seagull to do.

Is there something unusual about the name

Hewlett Alder--look!"; I said,

interrupting myself. A new human is entering the room. And I believe he is familiar.";

Rachel!"; Marco yelled in thought-speak.

Go find Jake and Cassie and Tobias.

We have company!";

Who?";

Visser Three in his human morph,"; I

said. The Abomination!";

Seagulls have eyes on the sides of their

heads. So I turned one eye to stare in through the window. Yes, it was him. Visser Three, leader of the invasion of Earth.

Visser Three is, of course, the only

Yeerk ever to successfully seize and infest an Andalite body. When he took that body, he

also got the Andalite morphing power that went with it.

So only Visser Three, among all the

Yeerks in the universe, has the power to morph.

I felt the slow rage I always feel on

seeing the foul creature, my brother's murderer.

Once I came close to avenging my brother.

Once I almost destroyed Visser Three. But

in the end, I failed, and he still lives.

The next time there will be no mistakes.

Whoa. Visser Three, and in human

morph,"; Marco said nervously.

Definitely something major going on.";

Two human doctors came into the room.

They spoke to the Visser. They spoke

respectfully. Fearfully. Shaking. I could not hear them through the glass, but clearly they knew who and what Visser Three was.

Visser Three began to demorph. To return

to Andalite form. From the human head, the twin stalk eyes appeared. From the human

chest, the front two legs began to grow. From the base of the human spine, the long, swift,

dangerous Andalite tail began to extend.

To my left, a swift flash of brown and tan

with a hint of red. Tobias, swooping past. I kept my other eye focused through the glass.

The blue and tan fur rippled across the formerly human skin. Visser Three was on four legs

now, tail cocked and ready.

He is very sure he's safe in this

place,"; I said. Otherwise he would never demorph like this.";

The doctors aren't too happy, though,"; Marco observed.

The doctors were shaking. Obviously, something was wrong. Then in a flash, Visser Three

pressed his tail blade against one doctor's

throat.

One twitch would send the doctor's head

rolling across the floor.

Now that he was back in his Andalite body, we could hear Visser Three's unguarded

thought-speak. I gave orders that this human be cured!"; he raged. There is no point

placing one of our people in his head if he's unable to move.";

The doctor said something. Something very

respectful, very careful.

I don't care about his brain stem, I

want him repaired! Do you have any idea how

useful this human would be to us? He is the number two man in the organization that guards their president. He would have access to half the

secrets on this planet. That's why I arranged for him to be injured and brought here."; Prince Jake and Cassie flew by, both

in seagull morph.

What's up?"; Prince Jake asked.

Visser Three, Prince Jake.";

Don't call me "prince." Yeah, I

hear his thought-speak. I meant, what do you see?";

The Visser is busy terrorizing a pair

of human-Controller doctors,"; I said.

Just then, Visser Three withdrew his tail

blade. The doctor collapsed and fell to his

knees on the floor. His fellow doctor

looked at him with pity, but made no move

to help him.

ally leave me with no choice: If

I can't use this creature as a host, I'll have to acquire him and morph him. I can't spend

all my time in his form. I can't live his life.

But using him, I can get close to his

superior. I can use this morph to seize her

instead!";

The doctor who was still standing spoke. He

smiled. He looked encouraging and enthusiastic.

The Visser flicked his tail, hit the doctor

with the flat of the blade, and knocked him across the room.

Don't tell me "It's all worked out for the best,""; Visser Three sneered. I still want this human repaired. That's the only

reason I let you live. Three days from now this human will be well, or the two of you will be very, very

... very ... sick.";

Then one stalk eye turned to stare directly

at me. The second stalk eye followed. And

I began to have a very bad feeling.

Visser Three moved away, out of sight.

Was he eyeballing us?"; Marco asked.

Then he answered his own question. He was

eyeballing us.";

Prince Jake,"; I said in thought-speak

only my friends could hear. What should we do?"; What's happened?"; Prince Jake

asked.

He eyeballed us, that's what happened,"; Marco said.

The Visser has moved out of our sight,"; I said.

Okay. Look, he may suspect you're

not real seagulls,"; Prince Jake said. So don't behave suspiciously, or like you notice him. One of you fly off. The other one wait a few seconds, then fly off. Like normal--"; CRASH!

The glass window exploded outward as something came blasting out through it. Marco was knocked from the sill and went tumbling, out of control, toward the ground.

I was too shocked to react at first.

Then I saw what had come bursting through the window. A kafit bird! A six-winged

kafit bird!

It had to be Visser Three in

morph. But how?

Impossible!"; I cried in total shock.

The kafit bird only lives in one place in

the universe: the Andalite home world.

The kafit shook off the glass shards and

banked sharply back toward me. Its

razor-sharp, killing beak was aimed at me like a missile.

I dropped from the sill, wings folded. The

deadly beak missed me by a feather! I opened my wings, caught air, and flapped hard.

The kafit was on me! The six wings gave it

terrific speed.

Ax, what is that thing?"; Cassie cried.

I didn't have time to answer. My human friends didn't understand. The kafit lives by spearing tree-living creatures. It is fast,

accurate, and deadly to small creatures.

And at the moment, I was a small creature.

Everyone on that bird!"; Prince Jake

roared. He can't take us all. Tobias!

Where are you?";

Too far away,"; Tobias said grimly.

I turned my head to look for the kafit.

Stupid! My head acted like a rudder and made me turn. Right into the path of the kafit!

I flapped wildly, crazily. Too slow!

The kafit's beak sliced through the underside of my wing.

Aaaahhh!"; I yelled.

I turned and flew in abject panic. I

flapped my wings and skimmed twenty feet above the ground. I knew the kafit was faster. Was it more agile, too?

But part of my mind just kept asking, How,

how, how?";

How had Visser Three acquired the DNA

of a kafit bird? Had the Abomination actually set foot on Andalite grass?

I was flying over a major street now. What

the humans call fast-food restaurants were below me. The Visser was inches behind me. He'd have me in three ... two .... I flared, killed my

speed, twisted my tail and head to shoot me

sideways, and the kafit bird blew past.

He was faster. I could out-turn him, but only when I had the benefit of surprise. How many more times could I trick him that way?

A nice maneuver, Andalite,"; the

Visser said, his thought-speak suddenly in

my head. Why not try it again?";

I was almost angry enough to answer. But of course Visser Three could not be sure I was an

Andalite in morph. He was guessing. If I

remained silent he might decide I was just an innocent seagull who happened to be on the sill.

I saw Prince Jake and the others racing

to catch up.

Prince Jake! Do not help me. If you

help me he'll know for sure that we are not just birds.";

Stop being a hero,"; Prince Jake said.

Tobias!";

I'm doing the best I can. I got dead

air here!"; Tobias yelled.

I caught a flash of the big red-tailed hawk

laboring to get altitude for a killing dive. But he was no more than ten feet above me and too far off to the side to help.

I was on my own.

Fine. So much the better, I said to myself,

trying to sound braver than I felt. I flapped madly toward a large golden sign in the shape of two conjoined arches. Let's see just how

fast the kafit bird can turn.";

I aimed straight for the hole in one arch, shot through it, and instantly turned. Visser Three rocketed past, outside the arch, and turned to come back toward me. But now I reversed and went

back through the second arch. The kafit was after me, but now his greater speed was useless. And his broad wingspan made it tough to fit through the arches.

Visser Three circled at blazing speed, but

I threaded my way again and again through the arches.

Good job, Ax-man!"; Tobias cried.

Hang in there. I have him in my sights!"; Humans were gathering beneath us, gaping up at the bizarre spectacle.

"Hey, that bird has too many wings!" one yelled.

"Must be a mutant bird. Go seagull, go!"

Whap! My wing tip caught the edge of an

arch. I stuttered through the air. I missed my turn.

Aaaaahhhh!";

The razor-sharp beak cut an inch from my wing tip! I fell. I hit the black roof of the

fast-food restaurant. I staggered and hopped into a narrow space between two large, loud

cooling units.

I saw the Visser swoop by low overhead and

I knew that he had landed on the roof, too.

I began to demorph as fast as I could. The

roof was surrounded by a raised wall. The humans on the ground could not see us. And once I was Andalite again, the bird would pose no more threat.

From my talons, hooves began to grow. My

tail feathers melted together and formed the beginnings of my tail blade. But as I grew, the space

became tight. I was wedged in between the cooling units, with fans blasting me with greasy smells.

I forced my way out, half Andalite, half

bird, staggering on misshapen legs. Out into the open center of the roof. And there I saw him. Like me, he was demorphing. Like me, he was part

bird, part Andalite.

But this was no true Andalite.

Give yourself up, Andalite,"; the Visser sneered. And I may even let you live."; Let's see how good you are tail

to tail,"; I said, once more trying to sound far more confident than I was.

His tail emerged. My tail emerged.

And we stood, seemingly two Andalites,

preparing for a battle to the death.

I looked into the eyes of the Abomination. And there I saw evil.

And then I saw something that made my hearts leap. Because I also saw fear.

It had been a very long time since any

Andalites fought tail to tail, except as part of military training or as a sport.

And this was no sport.

There, amid the blowing fans and the smell of grease and fried meat, Visser Three and I

stood face-to-face.

Two seagulls fluttered down to land. Then

two more. My stalk eye noted the predator's

outline of a hawk on the wing overhead.

Let's demorph,"; Rachel said,

directing her thought-speak to include me. I hoped she'd remember not to let Visser Three hear it. Humans sometimes forget that thought-speak can be targeted to everyone or just a list of people.

We can't demorph,"; Prince Jake said

to me. We'd have to pass through our human

forms first. We can't demorph unless we are

absolutely sure Visser Three is not going

to walk away from this.";

If we demorph, he won't walk

away,"; Rachel said grimly.

I kept my eyes trained on the Visser.

My tail was on a hair trigger. The slightest movement and I would strike.

I said, Prince Jake, we can't take the

chance. If he ever learns you are humans, your lives will be worthless. I can avenge Elfangor alone.";

This isn't the place,"; Cassie said

reasonably. People down below saw a six-winged bird come up here. Someone is probably on their way.";

I barely heard her. The Visser was edging

sideways, looking for an opening. I arched my tail blade high, ready to block his attack.

Ax, can you back off without getting hurt?"; Prince Jake asked. Cassie's right. We

don't want this fight here.";

Part of me wanted to say, yes, yes, we can

let the Visser escape. He was bigger than

I. His tail would have a half-foot advantage in reach. He was taller, which made it easier for him to strike my eyes, my head.

But another part of me had seen that look of fear in the Visser's eyes. He'd realized he was in a trap. He'd realized he was facing a

battle to the death where the odds were not all that favorable to him.

I wanted to see more of that fear from him. I wanted to see the terror as I pressed my tail blade against his throat and said, This is for my brother.";

Sudden movement!

I struck! My tail blade missed its

target, but slashed the Abomination across his shoulder.

In the confusion, I didn't understand at first.

Everything happened at once: his sudden movement, my strike, and then, the graceful flight as his leap took him over the wall.

He fell from sight. I ran to the edge and

craned to look over.

A human girl below was crying, "I swear I saw a blue horse jump off the roof!"

"You're crazy. Where'd it land, then?" her friend said.

I could see where he'd landed. In a

large square trash bin.

"In that Dumpster," the first girl said.

I glared down at the Visser. His left rear

leg was broken from the fall. He was morphing to human as fast as he could. He looked up at me with eyes blazing hatred.

I wanted to say something. I wanted to shout some threat. Make some dire promise. But all I

did was stare eye to eye with Visser Three.

And then, as his human mouth appeared, he

sneered.

Come on, Ax,"; Prince Jake said.

We're done here.";

That night I ran across the far pastures of

Cassie's ranch and tried to figure out my

emotions.

It was a wet night. Rain was falling, although not hard by Earth standards. The grass was wet and moist. I could feel my hooves picking up the worms that come out of the ground when it's wet. There would be extra protein in my diet, which was the last thing I needed. Too much protein keeps me

awake.

The clouds overhead hid the moon and the stars.

This made me sad. I like to find the home star at night. It has become a sort of unofficial

ritual. Something I do for myself. To remind myself that there is a place for me in the galaxy. I may not be there, but the place does exist.

Or am I just fooling myself? Yes, I have a

home planet. And a home on that planet. And a people like me. But will I ever fit in there again? Have I changed too much, been with humans too long?

I saw the lights of Cassie's home.

Once I had morphed into Prince Jake and

gone there for dinner with Cassie's parents. I have Prince Jake's DNA from the time when he

became infested by a Yeerk.

It's a treasured memory. Dinner with

Cassie, I mean, not morphing Prince

Jake. Sometimes when I'm alone in the woods and thinking about home, I find myself thinking about that evening instead.

I ran faster now, no longer concerned with

eating, but just wanting to feel the impact of raindrops on my face and my chest. If I

could run fast enough, all the drops would

hit my face and chest and none would fall down on my back.

I saw a wooden rail fence. Almost too

high to jump. But I ran straight at it,

kicked, tucked my front legs, and sailed

over.

There was a "thump!" as one hoof nicked the top rail.

I landed easily and realized I was panting.

I slowed down and trotted back toward the

woods.

I could have beaten him, I told myself.

I could have forced the fight. I could have struck again before he had a chance to get away.

Another part of my mind answered, No, you

would have lost. He's taller, bigger. He's more experienced. The Andalite body Visser Three

controls used to belong to a great warrior. Visser Three has all of that warrior's skill and

experience.

You went tail to tail with Visser Three and

let him get away.

I went tail to tail with Visser Three and

at least I didn't run away.

You wanted to. You were frightened.

I'd be a fool not to be frightened. But I

didn't run. He did.

I realized I'd come to rest, standing beneath a particularly tall pine tree just back from the edge of a meadow. Tobias's meadow.

What's up, Ax-man?"; he called down

from the darkness above.

Are you awake?";

all yeah. I have this slight tendency to wake up when big, blue, scorpion-tailed alien

centaurs go crashing around in the woods like a herd of ruptured elephants.";

Tobias is sometimes harsh when awakened. It

is a human characteristic that he has not lost.

I apologize for waking you. How do

elephants come to be ruptured?";

Tobias sighed. He floated down to a lower

branch, then sailed over to a fallen log.

ally're stewing, aren't you?";

What?";

Stewing. Going over things again and again in your head. Around and around in circles, asking yourself the same questions again and again, then starting it all over again.";

How did you know?";

Look, Ax, the first time I saw Visser

Three ... and you know when that was ... I cried, I was so scared.";

He was an alien. He was unfamiliar

to you.";

Elfangor was an alien. He was

unfamiliar. He didn't scare me. Visser

Three did. Not because of what he looked like, but because I could feel something coming from him. Like a dark cloud. Like a smell, almost. This feeling, I don't know any other word for it. Like I was looking at something that needed to be destroyed. He was evil. I felt it. And I had this horrible

understanding, this knowledge, that one way or the other, that evil was going to touch me and change me. So I just cried.";

I have met Visser Three before,"; I said stonily. I should not have been afraid."; What could you have done?";

I could have forced the fight.";

What if you'd lost?";

What if I'd won? It would have been a

terrible blow against the Yeerks. I would have avenged Elfangor. I would have done a great service for my people.";

Look, Ax, you went up against him. He

backed down. Not you.";

He was surrounded and outnumbered. He thought each of you was another Andalite warrior ready to demorph and attack. He retreated with

honor.";

Honor,"; Tobias said derisively.

He's a cold-blooded killer. He's an

invader in someone else's land. He's just another gangster. Murderers don't have honor."; I should let you go back to sleep.";

Ooookay. You want to drop it, it's

dropped."; He looked around, blinking, almost as blind as a human in the darkness. Hard to sleep when it's raining, anyway.";

Tobias. The bird that Visser Three

morphed? It was an Andalite bird. It's

called a kafit bird. From my home

planet.";

ally're thinking, what? That Visser Three

must have been on the Andalite home world in order to acquire it?";

all yes. I am worried that the Abomination

has set foot on the Andalite home world."; I felt Tobias grow tense. Now

he was beginning to understand. But he said, Sometimes people must take animals off the home world, right? I mean, just the way you can find an African lion in a zoo in America, Europe, wherever. Right?

So, okay, someone totally innocent takes one of these birds off your planet. They get hijacked or whatever. And it ends up in Visser Three's hands.";

I wanted to believe it was possible. So I

said, all yes, that could be it.";

But I didn't believe it. I believed that

Visser Three had either been to my world. Or that some ally of his had been there.

Either way it meant only one thing. The Yeerks had begun to reach into the one safe place in the galaxy: my home.

We met at the barn where Cassie and her father care for sick or injured nonhuman animals.

It is called the Wildlife Rehabilitation

Clinic. It is a large, dark building made

of wood. Within it are numerous cages made of steel wire. And within the cages are the sick animals.

Tobias was high in the rafters. From up there he can see out through a sort of window and can warn us if anyone is approaching.

Everyone else was on the ground level.

Cassie was working, pushing piles of dirty hay with a very large, three-pronged fork. Prince Jake would occasionally lift something out of her way.

Marco and Rachel were just chilling.

That's what humans call it. I believe it

refers to the fact that when humans sit very still and do nothing, their body temperature drops. Thus,

"chilling."

Someday, when I am old, too old to be a

warrior, I will write a book about humans and their strange habits and speech and technology.

For example, did you know that humans invented books before computers? Because of this they believe computers to be superior, despite the very obvious fact that it takes one of their computers as much as thirty seconds to "load" a page, while a book page can be accessed with zero effective delay.

One would almost dismiss humans as a quaint, unimportant, backward race.

Except for two things. First, these are, after all, the creatures who have raised the art of taste to incredible levels. Humans may be

technologically primitive, but they have created buttered popcorn, the Snickers bar, chili, and cigarette butts. (although humans themselves become very upset by the idea of eating cigarette butts.)

And let us not forget: Humans, for all their faults, have created the cinnamon bun. Some day, after the war, there will be pilgrimages of Andalites streaming to Earth to morph into humans for a day and do nothing but eat cinnamon buns.

Get the extra frosting. It's worth it.

"Ax, are you paying attention?" Marco asked.

I snapped out of my daydream. all yes, of

course.";

"Because, see, I've said the same thing to you twice now, and you just keep staring off into space like you're a million miles away."

Please tell me a third time and I will

pay attention.";

"I said, by Visser Three morphing an

Andalite bird, maybe he was sending a

message. I mean, he still thinks we're all

Andalites. He was pretty sure he was chasing an Andalite in morph, right? So he chooses

to morph an Andalite bird? That's not a

coincidence. That's a message."

And that's the second reason not to dismiss

humans as unimportant. They are

unbelievably quick to adapt. Just a few months ago, Marco didn't believe there was life on

other planets. Now he's accepted that fact,

absorbed an entirely new world view, found

himself in the middle of a war using morphing technology he doesn't understand, and even

managed to have insights that I miss.

all yes,"; I said slowly. all yes. But

why? What message?";

Marco shrugged his shoulders. "He's rattling your cage. It's like, "Hey, pal, while

you're stuck here on Earth I've been in and out of your house, hanging out with your buddies, and eating your mom's cookies.""

My mother does not make cookies,"; I

pointed out. The sense of taste is unknown

among--";

"The Visser's yanking your chain," Rachel said.

"Messing with your mind," Cassie agreed.

Jerking you around,"; Tobias said.

"Trying to baffle you with ... oh, never mind,"

Prince Jake said. "The point is, you have two questions: How did Visser Three acquire this bird? And why did he morph it to attack you?"

"That's not the real question, though," Cassie said.

"The real question is what are we going to do about this Hewlett Aldershot the Third?"

Marco stuck up his hand. "Get him to change his name?"

"You know, it's a pretty good plan Visser Three has," Prince Jake pointed out. "He acquires our man Hewlett Aldershot the

Third, then he walks into work at the Secret Service offices, punches up anything he

wants on the computer, sits in on secret

conferences, and ends up knowing everything the Secret Service knows."

What does the Secret Service know?";

I asked.

"A lot," Marco said.

Ah.";

"It's not just what he can find out, it's who he can talk to and get access to," Rachel said.

"He can find out if any information about Yeerk activities ever gets to--"

"Whoa!" Marco shot straight up on his two wobbly legs. I can never get past thinking

humans will topple over when they do that.

"What whoa?" Prince Jake asked

mildly.

"Whoa, as in whoa, Rachel is right. H.a.

Third can talk to anyone, right? He can talk to his boss, right? So, if he was to walk in and say, "Boss, guess what? Parasite

slugs from outer space are invading Earth!"

Well, okay, they'd throw him in the nuthouse.

But if he was to walk in and say, "Parasite slugs from outer space are invading Earth, and guess what, I can turn into a rhinoceros," and then he actually did turn into a rhinoceros

... well. Suddenly, boom! The secret is

out. The Yeerks are screwed."

"Unless his boss is a Controller," Rachel said.

"If she were a Controller, why would Visser Three be bothering with H.a. Third?" Cassie pointed out. But then she turned to Marco. "What exactly are you thinking? Are you talking

about morphing Mr. Aldershot?"

"Duh. Yeah."

"We don't do that," Cassie said. "I thought we decided we don't do that. We don't

morph humans."

I morphed Prince Jake,"; I said.

I was excited by Marco's idea. But there are times when my human friends are reluctant to do whatever it takes to hurt the Yeerks. Sometimes so am I.

And Cassie morphed Rachel that time,";

Tobias said.

"First of all, Ax, you're not a human, so maybe it's okay if you morph Jake. Besides,

Jake would have given his permission if he hadn't been infested with a Yeerk. And Rachel did

give me her permission," Cassie said.

"Excuse me," Marco said with an edge of sarcasm in his voice. "Our man H.a.

Third can't give permission. He's a

vegetable. He's a carrot. He's a

cabbage. He's a tomato."

"I thought tomatoes were fruit," Rachel interrupted, trying to provoke Marco.

"It's called a "persistent vegetative state," thanks so much for your sensitivity, Marco," Cassie said. "But we don't know if Mr. Aldershot is that bad off. He could just be in a coma. We don't have the right to go stealing his DNA."

"The man is a brussels sprout," Marco said.

"We'd never get in there, anyway," Prince Jake said. "Visser Three knows we know. We have to be in human form to "acquire"

Aldershot's DNA. You think we could do that with Visser Three on guard? Not likely."

Everyone looked downcast. Prince Jake was

correct.

But then Cassie said, "Oh, man."

"What?" Marco demanded.

Cassie sighed. "I'm totally against this. But

..."

"But? But? But what?"

Cassie turned to me. "Ax, is it possible to acquire DNA from blood alone?"

all yes. It should be.";

"Blood?" Rachel made a face.

"We're gonna get this guy's blood? Not

me, my friend. Hepatitis, HIV,

uh-uh."

Diseases cannot be transmitted during

acquiring,"; I said quickly. The acquiring process absorbs only DNA, and that DNA

is isolated, encapsulated within your own

bloodstream in a super-low temperature--and

thus very stable--naltron molecule sphere. You see--";

"I think my brain just fell asleep,"

Marco interrupted. "So, okay, the blood is safe for us. So, Cassie, how do we get it?"

Cassie explained.

All the other humans, even Tobias, said

"gross." They said "gross" very loudly and repeatedly.

I've learned something from my time with humans.

When they say something is gross, they are almost always right.

"So how do I acquire it without it acquiring me at the same time?" Prince Jake asked nervously.

"Don't be a big baby," Marco said. "Like you've never been bitten by a mosquito?"

"Never in cold blood," Prince Jake said.

It was several days later. My human friends

attend school five days in a row, then do not attend for two days. They don't know why. But they try and arrange for missions to take place on non-school days.

We were in the barn, surrounding a transparent glass box. In the box were a number of small, fragile-looking flying insects.

"You need to catch one in your hand. Don't squeeze too hard or you'll kill it,"

Cassie said. "Like this." She stuck her hand in the box. After two unsuccessful attempts, she

enclosed a mosquito in her hand.

She withdrew her hand, covered the box again, and began to focus on the mosquito. After a moment she opened her eyes. "Okay, who's next?"

"Just hand me your mosquito," Marco said.

"It probably already bit you, so maybe it's not hungry anymore."

"We can't all morph the same mosquito,"

Cassie said. "Only females suck blood.

Males are useless."

"Amen," Rachel said, then laughed.

"So what's that mosquito in your hand?" Marco demanded.

"Like I know?" Cassie said. "I don't have a magnifying glass that good. And even if I

did, how exactly do you tell a male from a

female?"

"That's easy," Marco said. "The males think loud belching is funny and the females don't."

"Is there any chance we could just get on with this?" Prince Jake asked.

all yes,"; I said. I do not fear the bite of these tiny insects."; I put my hand inside the glass cage. I had some difficulty grabbing one of the creatures, though. Human hands are stronger and faster than Andalite hands. In the end, Cassie grabbed a mosquito and handed it to me.

Thank you,"; I said, and began to acquire the necessary DNA.

When we had all finished Prince Jake said,

"Okay. Let's go."

We morphed to birds of prey to fly quickly

to the hospital. With harrier eyes I saw that the human Hewlett Aldershot the Third was still in his hospital bed. But there was a major difference.

There were now four large humans seated around him.

In the room next door to the left, we saw

four more. And in the room next door to the right, another four.

Human-Controllers, no doubt. And no

doubt heavily armed. Twelve armed humans

to protect Hewlett Aldershot the Third from

us.

Kind of flattering, actually,"; Rachel

said. Twelve guys? And maybe more we

don't see.";

The Yeerks must have some high-ranking people in this hospital,"; Cassie observed. To get

two private rooms just for guards like that?"; So how do we get in?"; Marco wondered.

How about a diversion?"; Rachel suggested.

I go into elephant morph, Jake does his

rhinoceros, and we rip that place apart!"; I said, As I understand, we each hope

to bite the human, so that we can be reasonably sure of extracting sufficient blood. But

Rachel, before you can go from elephant to mosquito you must pass through human. I, on the other hand, have no need of an intermediate stage. And nothing would draw the attention of a bunch of

Controllers better than an Andalite.";

It made perfect sense. Prince Jake

agreed that it made sense. So while the others went up to the roof and morphed back to human in preparation for becoming mosquitoes, I landed in a dark, open window at the far end of the hospital.

I fluttered inside, waited, listening. I

heard human breathing. My harrier eyes

adjusted to the darkness and I could make out a young human female, looking very frail in her bed.

I demorphed as quickly as I could, shedding

feathers and growing fur.

Suddenly the girl's eyes opened.

"Who are you?" she demanded. "Are you a fairy?"

ationo. I am an Andalite."; It was all

I could think of to say. Besides, I felt

reluctant to lie to a sick child.

"What's your name?"

My name is Aximili-Esgarrouth-

Isthill.";

"That's a funny name," she said. Then she closed her eyes and began to sleep once more.

I took a deep breath. I moved to the door

as silently as I could. I opened it and stuck one stalk eye out into the hall. Two humans in

white were at the far end of the hall.

I took another deep breath. Well, I

thought, I am supposed to create a

diversion.

I opened the door and stepped out into the

hallway. The two humans did not see me

till I had nearly reached them. Then their mouths opened very wide. And their faces began to change color: one turned white, the other red.

I don't know why.

"Holy ..."

"What the ..."

Obviously they were not Controllers or they would have been yelling "Andalite!" rather than "Holy" and

"What the." These were innocent humans.

Hello,"; I said. Please, do not be

alarmed.";

"It's ... it's some weird, mutated deer!"

"It's some kind of trick. It's gotta be a trick. All right, Terry, you can come out now.

Hah-hah, big laugh."

I passed them by and kept walking toward the heavily guarded room of Hewlett Aldershot

the Third.

A human went past pushing a cart loaded with food on trays. He never looked up. He just

kept looking down as he went. Then I guess

he noticed my hooves.

"Aaaahhhh!" he cried, and shoved the cart so hard it turned over.

Clang-clash-Wham!

Thus began the diversion. Suddenly doors

opened. Heads stuck out and looked and screamed.

People came running down the hall. Most turned around when they saw me and ran the other way.

"Oh, no! Did you see it? Did you see

it?"

"It's a monster!"

"I knew they were doing genetic experiments down in the labs! It's some kind of freak!"

It would almost have been insulting, if I were sensitive.

But then the door to the right of Aldershot's room opened. Out stepped a human. He gaped at me

for a second, then yelled, "Andalite!"

He gaped one second too long. He

yanked out a gun. I snapped my tail forward

and he quickly dropped the gun.

"Andalite!" he screamed again, but with extra hatred this time.

Now the guards came boiling out of all three rooms. They jammed into the hallway, too many to move freely. Human guns were being drawn.

And I saw a couple of handheld Yeerk

Dracon beam weapons, too.

In a split second they would all start

shooting. The lead slugs from the human weapons would be most dangerous. Not just to me, but because they would rip through the walls and might hit innocent people.

"Shoot! Shoot him, you fools, or Visser Three will have us for lunch!" one of the humans roared.

FWAPP!

I whipped my tail, left to right, a

millimeter from slicing open the front row. They backed up, stumbling back into their fellows.

FWAPP!

I whipped again, but now they were ready to start fighting. And I was seriously outnumbered and worried about innocent humans being hurt.

Obviously, I had not planned the diversion very well.

And that's when it occurred to me. The one way to keep from getting shot.

I surrender!"; I cried. I want

to defect.";

"What?"

I wish to defect. I am interested in

joining the Yeerks. I would like to become a Controller. Do you have any information on

membership? Is there a fee?";

A dozen weapons were leveled at me. From behind me, at that end of the hall I heard other human voices.

"What is going on around this place?"

"Is that a horse?"

"Look at the eyes on its head!"

"Where's security?"

The leader of the Controllers made a snap

decision. He hustled me out of the hallway and into the room where Hewlett Aldershot the Third was sleeping his comatose sleep.

The room was small. Too small for all the

guards. There were only five of them now. Much better odds.

"You want to join us?" one of the Controllers asked dubiously.

Actually, no,"; I said regretfully.

FWAPP!

I struck and the nearest guard leaped back,

plowing into his men. I had about half a second before they'd recover and shoot.

FWAPP! CRASH!

I shattered the window with my tail blade.

Here's a trick I learned from Visser

Three!"; I yelled. I ran three steps,

ducked my upper body, flattened my stalk

eyes, tucked my legs, and flew through the

shattered window.

Down I fell!

allyaaahhhh!";

Too far, way too far, but better than

getting shot.

The window's open, Prince Jake!"; I

cried. And the Controllers are--";

WHAM!

CRUNCH!

?--distracted.";

I landed in a bush that cushioned some of my fall but also tripped me. I rolled and tried to scramble up, but then realized, as

ridiculous as it seemed, that I was trapped

inside the prickly, clawing branches of the bush.

Blam! Blam! BlamBlamBlam!

The guards were firing from the window. Bullets tore the branches and slammed into the damp soil all around me.

Human weapons operate on a principle of

exploding gases that drive a solid metal

pellet along a tube. The tube acts to spin

the bullet, thus improving accuracy. It's no Yeerk Dracon beam, or Andalite Shredder,

but it does a very good job of blowing large, messy holes in you.

I needed to get small. Small enough to get

away!

I began to morph the mosquito.

We're in!"; I heard Prince Jake

say. Ax, are you okay? We think we hear

gunshots, but our hearing in these morphs is fuzzy.";

ally are correct: You are hearing

gunfire,"; I said tersely.

Are you okay?"; Tobias asked.

ation really. But I hope to be soon.";

If I live that long, I added silently.

I was shrinking rapidly, and now there were sirens wailing at a distance, coming closer.

"Police!" I heard a human voice cry from above. "We can't get arrested."

"If we let the Andalite escape we'll

get worse than arrested! Keep shooting!"

"I can't see what I'm shooting at. The

bushes. And it's all in shadow."

I was shrinking faster. Leaves that had seemed quite small now were as big as my face. Branches that were twisted and tiny were growing larger, larger. They no longer trapped me. I could have walked out of the bush, except for the fact that my legs were dwindling even faster than the rest of me.

Someday Andalite scientists will find a way

to make the morphing technology totally

predictable and logical. But for now it is often erratic, weird, and totally illogical.

Especially when morphing bizarre Earth

animals.

My hind legs had finished shrinking when they were still as big as an Earth cat's legs. Then they began to reverse and grow again. My hind legs thinned, becoming mere sticks, but their length became ridiculous. Longer than the rest of me

all together!

My front legs became somewhat shorter

stick legs and a third pair grew from my arms.

I was no longer on all fours. I was on

all sixes. I was standing on insect legs, yet most of my body was still Andalite. A very small Andalite, but far too large to move around on insect legs.

My stalk eyes crawled forward across my

head, down to a point just above my main eyes.

They began to extrude. They grew like some

horrible fast-sprouting tree. A long, bare

stick that then sprouted new branches: short, stunted, twisted branches. Bulging round pods popped from my head at the base of these hairy sticks--these antennae--and began to move them around.

My main eyes were still functioning, but from the antennae I received a whole onslaught of new sensory input. Temperature! Wind

direction! Sound waves from the rustling leaves, from the muddy, far-off voices, and sharp, disturbing sounds from the explosions of gunpowder and the impact thud of massive bullets all around me.

I was no longer worried much about the bullets.

I was too small to hit except by the most

amazingly unlucky shot. I was less than an

inch long and getting smaller.

The dirt looked like a field strewn with

boulders. The trunks of the bushes sprouting up from the ground were thicker and taller than any tree on Earth or my planet.

My nostril slits closed and began to twist

and push outward. Two stubby, hairy palps

appeared, and these immediately began feeding an entirely new set of data to my brain.

Smell! But not smell as an Andalite or

human knows it. This was specific, targeted, directed smell. It wasn't smell that waits

passively for whatever comes along. The palps were searching the molecules of the breeze, sampling, looking ...

Hungry.

Gossamer wings rose from the melting flesh on my back. My body pinched into three distinct segments: a tiny head, a muscular thorax, and a swollen, vast abdomen. Overlapping armored

plates clanked down the bottom of my

abdomen.

And yet, through all this, a tiny,

shrunken version of my Andalite main eyes

continued to function.

I wish they hadn't. I wish I'd never had

to see what happened next.

From my chin, from the place where a human would have had a mouth, it grew. A spear! A needle!

Impossibly long. On the end were tiny,

serrated teeth, almost like the teeth of a saw.

Inside the spear it was hollow. It was a

straw. A tube for sucking blood.

A retractable sheath grew along with the spear.

A sheath that would help keep the needle sharp.

Blood.

That was my goal. That was my hunger.

Blood!

I fired my gossamer wings and rose,

unsteady and wild, upward, upward, to where my palps had located the scent they sought: the sweet scent of exhaled animal breath. The guidepost that pointed the way to food.

That's when my eyes stopped working. I was blind for a few seconds as the morph completed. I

shrank some more, and suddenly from my forehead popped two bulging compound eyes.

Through them I saw a vision of reality shattered into thousands of tiny pictures. Thousands of tiny pictures, each different from the next, each a fragment of distorted light and eerie colors and nightmarish swirls of energy.

I never lost control of the morph. I mean,

I never forgot who I was, or what I was,

as sometimes happens in a morph you're doing for the first time.

So it wasn't that I lost my mind. It was

simply that the hunger of the mosquito was so great, so powerful, so totally clear and forceful, that I felt myself going along with it. Accepting it.

I was flying, and knowing who I was, and yet as the mosquito's instincts cried, "Blood!

Blood!" I answered, "Yes! Yes!"

Mosquitoes do not fly with the speed and

acrobatic genius of a fly. Or with the precision and power of a bird. They fly wildly, blown

by chance breezes. The legs dangle long and

drag at the air. The wings are underpowered. But the mosquito gets where it's going.

It seems a harmless insect when you

see it. But I have done some research.

Mosquitoes transmit bacteria, viruses,

and parasites. They carry the diseases

encephalitis, yellow fever, and malaria.

Malaria alone kills two million

humans each year. Mosquitoes are the greatest mass murderers on planet Earth.

Ax! Ax! Talk to me,"; Prince

Jake called, and I realized suddenly that he'd been yelling for some time.

I am fine,"; I said. I have morphed

to mosquito.";

Good,"; he said. Look, I know what

you're feeling right now. Don't fight it. The hunger stops once you bite.";

Follow the smell,"; Cassie said.

That's carbon dioxide your palps are

smelling. It comes off animals, including

humans. Go for it.";

I rose, hungry, to the open window. But there I was confused. There were many warm, carbon dioxide-emitting creatures.

The one I was looking for was lying down. Lying still. I focused on the mosquito senses. I

struggled to put together the sound waves from my antennae, the smell of carbon dioxide from my palps, and the shattered, lurid view through my compound eyes.

Huge, huge, vast beyond imagining, stretched my target. Hundreds of times my length,

millions of times my weight, Hewlett

Aldershot the Third lay prone, oozing

attractive aromas.

I fluttered on gossamer wings and landed. I

was on a rough, uneven surface. There were bumps and ridges of warm, pink flesh. Here and there, like lone trees scattered on a dry plain, hairs

rose like curved spears from the flesh.

The flesh was alive. It moved slightly,

causing me to rise and fall. The human was

breathing. But more fascinating than the slow rise and fall of breath, was the Thump! Thump! Thump!

of a drumbeat beneath my feet.

A pulse. The beating pulse of blood rushing

through arteries and veins.

And then ...

POP!

There was a distinct popping sound and suddenly, instantly, I was no longer a mosquito tapping into a human's vein.

I was in space. White, empty

Zero-space!

Whaa ...? What? Z-space?"; I

cried. Maybe not the most brilliant comment. But I was confused.

I kicked my legs instinctively. My

Andalite legs. I was back in my own body.

But there was nothing to kick against.

I felt no sensation of movement, no air was

rushing over me. Already the lack of oxygen was beginning to cloud my brain. My eyes were going blind. My limbs were numb.

Zero-space! It was impossible. And yet here

I was.

I looked around frantically. I turned my

stalk eyes in every direction. I saw my own

body, inside and out. An n-dimensional

jigsaw puzzle, twisted so that I could see

inside my own body.

And there, to one side of me, were four human bodies spread out in the same way--weird

cross sections. I saw Prince Jake's

face, but also his beating heart and the muscle tissues of his legs and the inside of his brain. The same with the others.

They were all writhing in agony.

And there was one bird, very still.

Prince Jake! Tobias!"; I cried.

But of course they couldn't answer. There was no air to carry their mouth-sounds. There was nothing, not even the few stray atoms and molecules that

float free in regular space. There were no

stars or planets. Nothing exists in

Zero-space.

I happened to catch sight of a silvery,

graceful creation, perhaps half a mile away.

A ship! As with the bodies, I saw the inside and outside of the ship all in one picture. I could see distorted individuals inside, going about their duties.

But even mind-numb and gaping at a confused

nightmare vision, I knew what sort of

creatures they were.

Andalites. It was an Andalite ship!

Its Zero-space engines burned

brightly, but it was not moving away.

It hit me in a flash. I knew what had

happened. As any Andalite knows, when you morph something much smaller than your own body, the excess mass is extruded into Zero-space.

It hangs there, a wad of randomly arranged

matter.

Or at least that was the theory. There was nothing random here. Because we were outside of normal three-dimensional space, I could see the

insides of everything and everyone. But the bodies were still definitely human and Andalite bodies.

They were not just random globs.

Once, some time ago, I explained to my

human friends about excess mass being pushed into Zero-space. They asked whether some ship traveling through Zero-space might not hit these matter bubbles.

I'd laughed. After all, the odds were ...

Well, obviously it now seemed the odds were

pretty good. The Andalite ship had come too

close and had pulled us into its magnetic

field. It was now dragging us in its wake as it blasted through Z-space.

Aboard the Andalite ship!"; I cried with all the power I could still muster. Andalite ship!

Andalite ship! We're trapped in your wake and dying. Help! Andalite ship, help!";

The energy it took to cry out sapped my

remaining strength. There was no air. I could literally see my own lungs collapsing inside me. I could see my hearts frantically beating, trying to keep me alive.

But now the hearts were slowing ... slowing.

Andalite ship! Help! Help!"; I

cried. Help ...";

I can't describe the pain of seeing my own

fellow Andalites so close. The first Andalites I'd seen in so, so long.

But of course they couldn't see me. Inside the ship they preserved normal three-dimensional space. The Andalites in the ship saw only

bulkheads and decks about them.

And then I literally saw, as though I were standing outside myself, the last beats of my heart. I saw the blood flow in my brain slow and stop.

I knew I was going to die. I was going to die within sight of my own people.

Die ...

My consciousness went dark.

And then suddenly, I wasn't dead. I

wasn't spread out in multiple dimensions. I

was in one piece, alive, and lying on my side on a shaped table that adjusted gently to hold my tail and legs comfortably.

What?"; I said, for no particular reason.

I don't think what is the question,"; an Andalite voice said. I think why and how and especially who are the questions.";

I turned my stalk eyes and there, standing beside me, were three Andalite warriors.

I am Aristh Aximili-Esgarrouth-

Isthill,"; I said.

Prince Elfangor's little brother?"; one of the Andalites blurted.

all yes. I am Elfangor's brother.";

I sighed a little at that. I know it's

ridiculous, but as much as I loved and admired Elfangor, it did get annoying always being

called "Elfangor's little brother."

They were three Andalite warriors. You could tell they were warriors by the way they carried themselves. By the way they managed to look totally straight and stiff, and yet had just a little bit of a casual slouch in their hind legs.

That, plus the fact that each had a

military-issue Shredder weapon and extra power cells slung on a bandolier.

I am Samilin-Corrath-Gahar,

captain of this ship,"; the oldest of them said.

My tactical officer

Hareli-Frodlin-Sirinial, and our ship's

physician, Doctor

Coaldwin-Ashul-Tahaylik. Now what in

yaolin are you doing drifting around in

Zero-space with five aliens?";

Did you save them? Are they safe? The

aliens, I mean?";

Doctor Coaldwin answered. all yes, they

are quite well. But what unusual physiology!

Four of them are clearly bipedal but lack any sort of tail. They walk on two legs and

manage to do so without having a tail for balance.

Quite fascinating. The remaining alien is

evidently designed for flight and--";

all yes, thank you, Doctor,"; Captain

Samilin interrupted. The question for the

aristh is what was he doing in Zero-space in the company of these ... these fascinating aliens."; I climbed to my feet. I felt shaky, but

I couldn't just lie there. Captain, I was in morph. In a very small morph. Then I heard

a popping sound and suddenly I was in

Z-space.";

What? You are the extruded mass from a

low-mass morph? It's impossible!"; the

doctor cried, his eyes bright with excitement.

I mean, it's not impossible, perhaps, but it's never happened. This will annihilate every existing theory of morph mass displacement. This will be a scientific breakthrough of--";

all yes, no doubt,"; the captain interrupted again, sounding more testy. But as fascinating as it is scientifically, I have a bigger question. We know how you came to be floating in Zero-space,

Aristh Aximili, but how did these aliens

arrive here, since only Andalites possess the morphing power?";

It was a direct question from a superior officer.

A very superior officer. A ship's captain

is lord and master of his ship. An aristh is basically something a ship's captain might

scrape off his hoof.

Even though the captain's tone was very

accusatory, I had this sudden urge to start

laughing. It was sheer relief. First, because my friends were well. But also because I was back among Andalites.

They looked like me. They spoke like me. They moved like me. I wanted to laugh and to be sad.

Answer the captain's question!"; the tactical officer roared, speaking up for the first time. As the number two officer, tactical officers are the ship disciplinarians.

Sorry, sir,"; I said. It's just that

I haven't seen a fellow Andalite in a very

long time. And I thought I might never ... that I might be stuck on Earth for the rest of my

life.";

The T.o.'s fierce expression softened. But

not much.

The captain nodded and said, Just give me your report, Aristh."; But he said it nicely.

all yes, Captain. I have been marooned on

Earth for approximately point seven standard Andalite years. I believe I am the only

survivor following a battle between the

Dome ship where I served and a Yeerk Pool

ship. The Pool ship was assisted by a concealed Blade ship belonging to Visser Three."; The T.o. made a sneering, disgusted sound.

The Dome was separated prior to battle and

... I was in the dome. It wasn't by choice.

I was ordered to the dome."; I felt foolish defending my actions. But I didn't want it

to look like I was some kind of coward. Anyway, the dome fell from orbit and crashed in one of Earth's oceans. I was down there underwater for several Earth weeks, until the humans came

to rescue me."

The same humans who are now in sick

bay?"; the doctor asked.

all yes.";

They used some human diving craft?"; the T.o. asked.

ationo. They morphed into aquatic animals

and rescued me.";

The captain showed no expression except a

wary tightening around his main eyes. They

morphed. And where exactly did they acquire

the ability to morph?";

This was going to be hard. Some time ago I had managed to make contact with the Andalite command. They had basically told me to take the blame for

giving humans morphing ability. They didn't

want to blacken Elfangor's reputation as a

hero. Giving away morphing technology is a

major crime.

What should I say? Should I lie to the

captain? It seemed impossible. But I had

orders from much higher sources.

I did, sir. I gave them morphing

capability.";

The captain just looked at me. I see.

You are not a good liar, Aristh Aximili."; My hearts skipped a few beats.

Sir?";

The T.o. sighed. ally young fool, if you

gave the morphing power to the humans, how did they manage to already be in morph the first time you saw them? Obviously, they were already capable of morphing by the time they discovered you.";

What could I say? I hadn't exactly had

time to prepare a good story. I was supposed to be a mosquito a few billion miles away.

Now I looked like a liar and an idiot.

I said nothing, just tried to stand at

attention.

Doctor, thank you,"; the captain said,

dismissing the doctor. Perhaps you'd like to go check on your "humans." And see if you can't analyze this Zero-space problem young Aximili has discovered.";

The doctor left. The captain leaned

close..Aristh Aximili, I'd like to know

why you're lying to me.";

I would never lie unless ...";

Unless what, you insignificant

aristh!"; the T.o. cried. ally are

addressing a ship's captain!";

I nodded. all yes. I know.";

The T.o. started to yell again, but the captain cut him short with a raised hand.

.Aristh, have you at any time made contact

with the home world during your time on Earth?"; all yes, Captain,"; I said, practically collapsing with relief. Captain Samilin got

it. He understood.

And were you given orders at that time?"; all yes, Captain.";

He looked as if he might ask more, but he

didn't. He looked at me for a long time. Then in a much gentler voice he said, What

happened to Elfangor?";

He was killed. By Visser Three. On the

planet surface.";

The captain nodded. The T.o. looked

shocked.

Prince Elfangor did this?"; the T.o.

asked in an awed voice. Prince

Elfangor broke the law of Seerow's

Kindness?";

That speculation will never leave this room,"; the captain said harshly. It was Aristh

Aximili who foolishly gave the morphing power to the humans. But between us, I'll say this. I served under Prince Elfangor. I was his

T.o. at one time. And anytime Elfangor

did something, it was for a good reason."; He looked right at me and said, Elfangor was my friend as well as my prince. I'll believe he broke

the rules. I'll never believe he did

wrong.";

"Hey, I have a question," Marco said, raising his hand and waving it around in the air with a sense of urgency.

What question?"; I asked him.

"Where, where, where ... WHERE ARE WE?"

We are in the sick bay of the Andalite

assault ship Ascalin."; I tried not to sound too happy about that fact. I knew my human

friends would be devastated at learning they were marooned far from Earth.

"Ascalin? Isn't Ascalin that new

salad green?" Rachel wondered.

We have just come out of Zero-space and are now moving at top space-normal speed toward

planet Leera.";

"Leera? Where the psychic frogs are from?"

Cassie said. "The creatures who the Yeerks were going to use those mutated sharks on?"

all yes."; As we already knew, the Yeerks were having difficulties invading Leera in their

usual style. The Leerans' psychic

abilities make them able to detect the presence of a Yeerk in another Leeran's head. The

Yeerks were going to alter hammerhead sharks to make them suitable for Yeerk infestation, and then use those shark-Controllers as shock troops in the oceans of Leera.

"But we busted up that plan back on Earth,"

Marco said impatiently. "I was there,

remember? I know this part. What I meant was, how did we end up here? One minute I'm a

mosquito, then bim, bam, boom I'm my

cute, lovable self again, only I'm looking

up at some Andalite who's asking whether I ever had a tail! I almost peed myself. I thought he was Visser Three!"

It seems our extruded mass was swept

up in the wake of a passing ship. Everyone is very surprised and excited. We have made a

scientific breakthrough.";

"Oh, good, I feel better already," Rachel said, using a tone humans call "sarcasm."

"So how do we get back?" Prince Jake asked.

ationo one knows. The doctor and the other

scientists on board are working on the theory. There may be a snapback effect. But they don't

know. And we are about to land on Leera. This is an assault ship, which means it carries a large number of surface attack craft. It

is no longer a secret Yeerk invasion of

Leera. It has become a major, open

battle. They have four Pool ships in orbit and two Blade ships. Hundreds of Bug

fighters. We have less than a third of their forces.";

"So let me get this straight," Rachel said.

"Suddenly we're a bazillion miles from

home and we're about to get dragged into a serious shooting war where the good guys are outnumbered three to one?"

all yes,"; I said.

"Cool," Rachel said. "What can we do to help?"

"Oh, even for you, Rachel, that is just sick,"

Marco said.

ally can do nothing,"; I said. I told you the kafit bird morph that Visser Three used

is from my home planet. That means our side

may be infiltrated by Yeerks or their allies.

We can't trust your secret to anyone. If you do get back to Earth somehow, you won't survive if the Yeerks find out who you are.";

Cassie tilted her head and looked at me

with a sad sort of smile. "If you get back to Earth? Meaning you won't be going back with us?"

I wished I hadn't used those words. My head

was too full of problems and complications and every kind of emotion. I didn't really want to think about being separated from my human friends.

Rachel looked disgruntled. "I have news for you, Ax. If there's some Yeerk butt-kicking

being done today, I'm in on it."

We have to follow the captain's orders,"; I said.

"Says who?" Marco asked.

I was beginning to feel still more troubling emotions.

Something bordering on panic now. And, strangely enough, guilt. am just a lowly aristh. Like a human cadet. I have to follow orders."; I looked pleadingly at Prince Jake. ally have

to understand. You are no longer my prince, now that I am back among my own people.";

They all looked at me. It wasn't a

nice look.

Prince Jake tried not to seem bothered. But

although I am no expert on human facial

expressions, I believe my statement

did cause him concern.

Maybe you need to think about who your people are now,"; Tobias said in a private whisper that no one else heard.

I'm not you, Tobias. I'm not a

nothlit. I'm not one species trapped in the

body of another.";

ationo. But I don't think you're just a lowly aristh anymore, either. And whether you like it or not, you're one of us.";

I didn't answer him. He was wrong.

Instead I said, as gently as I could, The

captain has ordered that until the situation is stable, you must all remain here. In this room.

Please do not attempt to move about the ship."; The Ascalin raced, engines wide-open,

toward planet Leera. I watched from the

bridge. For some reason the captain had called me there and seemed to want to keep me close by.

Maybe he was worried about me being too

close to the humans. I don't know. I just know that an aristh doesn't usually stay on the

bridge.

It was small, as battle bridges go. None

of the wide-open spaces of a Dome ship

bridge. There was good, hardy grass underfoot, though. And the latest in sensors and computers ringed the circular space, watched by half a dozen

intensely focused warriors.

It was an honor to be there. It was exciting.

So why did I keep picturing my human friends sitting in the little room off the sick bay?

A tall, holographic display shimmered in

the middle of the room. It showed the planet and the ships in nearby space. Yeerk ships in red,

our ships in blue. There was a lot more red than blue.

By focusing my mind, I could see one of the new thought-speak displays. It transmits data

directly to your brain. Very "cutting edge," as Marco would say.

I decided that I had no reason to feel

guilty. I had been united with the humans when we were on Earth. That made sense. But now I was back among my own people. My true place was

here.

On the thought-speak display I called up a

detailed map of the situation on the ground.

Planet Leera was ninety-two percent

covered by water. Eight percent land in a few scattered islands and one continent. The land battle would take place on the continent. Neither we nor the Yeerks had much capability underwater where the Leerans built their cities.

I could see several Leeran cities, usually

built within forty or fifty miles of the continent or one of the islands.

Whoever--Yeerk or Andalite--ended up

controlling the continent would effectively control the planet.

What do you think of the tactical situation, Aristh Aximili?"; the T.o. asked

me.

It startled me. He sounded almost friendly.

I'm not an expert on--";

I did not suppose you were,"; he

snapped. I asked for an evaluation.";

all yes, sir. The Yeerks are strong in

orbit above the planet. I would say the odds favor them. But they don't want the battle

to take place up here. Even if they beat us, they might be too badly damaged to be able

to invade and hold the continent below from Leeran counterattack.";

I see. If they fear the Leerans on the

surface, why take the risk of engaging us and the Leerans together on the surface?";

I was out of things to say. Of course, the

T.o. was right! I must sound like an idiot.

The T.o. turned one stalk eye to look at

me. Because, Aristh Aximili, the Yeerks

understand that different species do not fight well together. We have one way of doing things. The Leerans a very different way. The Yeerks are united under one command; we and the Leerans are not."; I noticed the captain looking thoughtfully at me and at his T.o. He seemed displeased.

There's a lesson there, Aristh,"; the

T.o. said. We Andalites are strongest when

we fight alone.";

all yes, sir."; I knew what he meant.

He was talking about the humans. And I really should just keep quiet. And yet, with all due

respect, it was my human friends and I who

destroyed the Yeerks' attempt to create a

species of ocean-going shock troops for use

here on Leera. If the Yeerks had succeeded in that plan, the situation here today would be impossible.";

The T.o. looked angry. I didn't

regret having spoken up, but I was waiting for him to--

Dracon flashes!"; a warrior at a

sensor station called out. We have Dracon

flashes at the north end of the continent. Now Shredder flashes. The battle has begun."; An instant later, a holographic

Andalite head appeared in midair before us.

Force Commander Prince

Galuit-Enilon-Esgarrouth,"; the T.o.

said. Attention!";

No one stood at attention except

me. They all had things to do. You don't actually stand at attention if you're doing something.

In a calm thought-speak voice the

holographic head said, The action has begun

on the continent. There are heavy Yeerk forces.

Carry out plan seven four. To our Leeran

allies: May your great god Cha-Ma-Mib

smile on you this day. And to all Andalite

warriors: The People expect that every warrior shall do his duty.";

The Ascalin decelerated, slowing as it

dropped into the thick, humid atmosphere of

Leera.

Sir, what is my battle station?"; I

asked the T.o.

He laughed the grim laugh of a warrior going into battle. For the bold aristh who made all this possible? You'd better stick with me."; He and the captain exchanged a glance and a

laugh. I didn't know whether to be embarrassed or proud. Mostly, I was just scared.

The continent loomed larger and larger. Most of it was lush and green, primarily jungle. Green like Earth's forests and jungles, but with wide swaths of some brilliant yellow vegetation, too.

The northern end of the continent was less fertile, more barren, probably colder. It was in one

valley there that the battle was underway.

Visual,"; the captain ordered.

Magnification optimum.";

The hologram that had showed space now switched to a startlingly real picture of the valley. I could see Yeerk forces, mostly Hork-Bajir

with a reserve of Taxxons and a scattering of Gedds, dug in on high ground around the west rim of the valley. They had erected massive force fields covering their back, thus forcing our forces and the Leerans to come at them head-on.

Our ground skimmers were racing across rock and through scattered trees, firing and being fired upon.

A force of Leerans was on foot, scrabbling

over the rocks almost unprotected to assault the Yeerks.

ally see why the Yeerks chose to fight

here?"; Captain Samilin said. As the

T.o. was saying, different species under

different commands cannot function well together. You see? We waste our forces protecting the

Leerans from being mowed down. And as a result, we are weak.";

The Ascalin will turn that around,"; the T.o. said confidently.

Landing approach,"; a warrior called out.

Then ... Captain! Malfunction in the

ground-approach guidance system!";

The captain looked perfectly calm. The

T.o. swung his face toward the warrior who'd spoken.

What?!"; he roared.

Sir, the controls are frozen. I've been

locked out. Attempting to override. Override failing!";

The T.o. leaped to the console. His fingers

flew across the fields and resonators. I saw his concentration as he made the mind-link with the system.

Then, with absolute horror on his face, he

turned to the captain. Captain! We are on

approach to land behind Yeerk lines. We won't have a prayer!";

The captain walked calmly over to his

T.o. And then ...

FWAPP!

The captain whipped his tail blade like

lightning. The blade hit the T.o. at the

base of his tail.

T.o. Hareli's tail fell to the deck and

twitched. Every warrior on the bridge froze, staring at the impossible sight.

The captain drew his Shredder and fired.

TSEEEWW! TSEEEWW!

Warriors fell to the deck, stunned

unconscious. The air crackled with heat.

Static electricity sizzled and danced in blue flame across bodies and equipment alike.

Only the bleeding, horrified T.o. was

left conscious. A deliberate insult: He was

no longer dangerous.

Ah, my good aristh,"; the captain said, holding the Shredder on me and taking the T.o.'s Shredder. don't want to take the chance of

injuring you. Visser Four would be very upset if I injured the creatures who have been causing Visser Three such trouble on Earth. Vissers

Three and Four are such close friends. Just remain calm. It will all be over in a moment. And you will all be ... guests ... of the Yeerk

Empire.";

I stood there like my hooves had been nailed to the deck. It wasn't possible! An Andalite ship's captain a traitor?

Or was he a Controller?

No one moved. The computer guided the

Ascalin down, down to sweep slowly forward, just a few hundred feet above the rocky ground. In seconds we'd be down.

T.o. Harelin was bleeding profusely from his severed tail. But I knew he would rather die than live without a tail.

The humans! It hit me like a Dracon beam

blast. My human friends were back in the sick bay. The captain knew their secret. In a

matter of seconds, so would the entire Yeerk Empire. The news would flash to Visser

Three. There would be no going home for them. Ever.

And Earth, like Leera, would fall to the Yeerks.

Prince Jake! Tobias! Cassie!

Marco! Rachel!"; I cried in private

thought-speak. If one of you can hear me, you must escape! The captain is--";

The captain is a dirtbag,"; Marco's

thought-speak voice said, startlingly clear and close.

What? Where are you?";

Oh, gee, Ax, we decided not to just sit

in our room with our hands folded like good little girls and boys,"; Rachel said. Sorry.";

Ax, we are on the bridge,"; Prince

Jake said. We saw what happened. Or

saw as well as we can in these morphs."; Prince Jake, it is absolutely

vital that Captain Samilin be stopped!"; We can't take him out,"; Cassie said.

We would demorph too slowly. But I

happen to be on the captain, and I can

definitely distract him.";

The Ascalin was settling toward the ground.

Through the front viewport I saw row after row of Hork-Bajir, all with weapons drawn,

totally surrounding the landing area.

Do it, Cassie,"; I said grimly.

Distract him and I will do the rest. We have just seconds!";

I stared, riveted, as a flea too small

to be seen became a flea too large to be

ignored. It grew on the captain's

back, larger, larger, with twisting, morphing features.

What is--"; the captain yelled in

surprise.

FWAPP!

I struck! My tail blade whipped forward,

aimed for Samilin's neck.

He jerked back, dodged. My blade hit

his upper right front leg a glancing blow. All around the room flies and cockroaches no one had noticed began to grow as my human friends

demorphed.

But now the captain swept his Shredder toward me and I struck again.

FWAPP!

The weapon flew from his hand and skittered across the deck.

It was the captain and I, tail to tail. We

faced each other, each quivering with energy and focus, each waiting for the opening that would allow us to swing the killing tail slash.

I flashed on the scene with Visser Three.

This was the second time I had gone tail to tail with an enemy. This time my foe would not escape.

TSEEEWWW!

T.o. Harelin! He had snatched up the

fallen Shredder and fired. The captain sizzled, looked horrified, then disappeared.

Computer!"; the T.o. yelled.

Emergency override, switch controls

to manual!";

WHAM!

Too late! The Ascalin hit the ground

hard. I was thrown off my hooves. My human

friends, all back in their own bodies now, went rolling and tumbling. Only the T.o. managed

to stay on his feet.

Computer, emergency liftoff!";

Unable to comply,"; the disembodied voice said. There is severe main engine damage."; I saw Harelin rock back on his hooves

at this news. Humans, remorph! The only

way out of here is to be invisible. Aristh, you, too.";

I'm not running away!";

all yes, you are, Aristh

Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill. You and the

humans will escape and get word of this evil to the commander. That is an order.";

But--";

Do you know how to take an order?"; he

roared.

all yes, sir.";

Morph something small. I'll blow you out the emergency hatch. Get as far from the Ascalin as you can. You won't have much time. Do you hear me?"; I knew then what he was going to do. I knew

he had no choice. He could not allow himself to be taken by the Yeerks. He could not allow any of the Andalites on board to be taken alive. And there was simply no way to escape this trap.

Prince Jake, we all have to morph

small. Um ... um ... flies! Morph

to flies, and fly up to the ceiling of the bridge.

There's an escape hatch.";

I noticed Rachel looking at me with total

disdain. Then she looked to Prince Jake.

"What do we do?"

"What he said," Prince Jake said. "Do it."

I focused my own mind on the fly morph.

I expected T.o. Harelin's face to reveal

surprise or horror as I began to undergo the changes. After all, flies are pretty

horrific even by Earth standards.

But the T.o. wasn't interested. He was

staggering now from the loss of blood. And he was making an announcement that would be transmitted throughout the ship.

To all warriors and crew of the Ascalin.

This is the tactical officer. The captain is dead. We are surrounded. No chance of escape.

Nothing to do now but inflict the maximum damage on the Yeerks. In three minutes I will begin firing all ship's weapons. The Shredder

flashback will cause the ship to explode."; He let this sink in for a moment.

Perform the ritual of death, my friends.

Thank you for your service to this ship. You die in the service of the People, defending freedom."; I was shrinking rapidly. The deck was rushing up toward me. Insect legs and insect

antennae sprouted from me. But I was Andalite, at one with every Andalite on the ship.

From all over the ship, a hundred thought-speak voices spoke the words of the ritual. I couldn't help but join them.

I am the servant of the People,"; I said. I should have bowed my head, but I no longer had a head that could bow. I am the servant of my

prince."; All over the ship I knew my

fellow Andalites were raising their stalk eyes upward.

I am the servant of honor,"; I said, and heard the echo of all those strong voices. My life is not my own, when the People have need of it.

My life is given for the People, for my prince, and for my honor.";

I fired the fly's legs, started the wings

beating, and flew up toward the escape hatch. I have never felt worse than I did at that moment.

So many would die. And I would live.

.Aristh?"; the T.o. said weakly.

all yes?";

Maybe I was wrong. Maybe different

races can be stronger together. Go with your humans and prove me wrong.";

The escape hatch blew open before I could

answer. A powerful rush of escaping air

launched me out into the Leeran dusk.

Jake ... Prince Jake,"; I said.

We must get as far away as we can.";

We flew, rolling and tumbling through the air, riding the strong breeze wherever it took us. When the Ascalin blew itself up, we were safe from the blast. And safe, too, from the thought-speak cries of a hundred dying heroes.

Okay. Now what?"; Rachel said.

I didn't have an answer. I couldn't think.

I just kept turning it over and over in my mind: An Andalite ship's captain had turned

traitor. It was impossible. Because the more I thought about it, the more I realized he could not have been a Controller.

The Ascalin had been in space for weeks.

In order for a Yeerk parasite to have lived in Captain Samilin's brain, it would have to have had Kandrona rays. There was no way for even the captain to conceal a portable Kandrona aboard the ship.

I said ... now what?"; Rachel

repeated.

I don't know,"; I said.

Well, if you don't, who does?"; she

demanded. What are we going to do? Fly around looking for the nearest Dumpster so we can see if there's a tasty pile of rotting fruit?

Come on, we need a plan.";

I ... I ... I don't know what

to do.";

We need to find a way home,"; Marco

said. Obviously, thanks to Captain

Benedict Arnold back there, this whole war is going bad on us. I didn't think the almighty Andalites did things like that. I thought it was just us poor, dumb, primitive humans who'd sell

out to the bad guys.";

How about everyone getting off Ax's

back?"; Tobias said.

all yeah, poor Ax,"; Rachel sneered.

He throws us over in a flash for his big deal captain who, oops, turns out to be a

traitor.";

Rachel, I don't think that's really

fair,"; Cassie argued.

Fair? Fair?!"; Marco yelled.

If it wasn't for us totally ignoring Ax and

his precious captain, Ax would be dead back there along with--";

I wish I were!"; I cried. I wish

I were back there with them. I wish I had died with them.";

I had not intended to say that. And I did not mean it. Not really. I wanted to live. I

felt terrible about it, but I wanted to live.

Okay, everyone shut up,"; Prince

Jake said at last. That was rough, what

happened back there. A lot of good guys just died. Everyone is hyped up. So let's just

chill.";

He waited a few moments before going on.

Here's what we do. We keep flying till

we're near the two-hour limit. We won't

get far in these bodies, even with this breeze, but we want as much distance as we can get."; We flew in silence, seeing the strange

planet through the distorted compound eyes of flies, hearing almost nothing, smelling things we could not identify. We were alone in silence with our thoughts.

And after a while I almost wished the yelling and accusations would start again.

It's a terrible thing, living when so many others have died. It's terrible because no matter what you do, a single thought keeps popping up in your head: I'm glad it wasn't me.

I was glad it wasn't me.

We landed amid a tumble of rocks that

would hide us from view. We demorphed. From what I could recall of the display on board the

Ascalin, we were in a no-person's land between the Yeerk and Andalite forces. The battle could

sweep over us at any moment.

"Okay, I'm calm now," Rachel said as soon as she had emerged from the fly morph. "So now that I'm calm, same question: Now what?"

"What do you think about having Tobias take a look around?" Prince Jake asked me.

I don't know,"; I said.

Prince Jake looked at me with a narrowing of the eyes and pressing together of the lips. The expression is "annoyance," I believe.

"Tobias? Go up and take a quick look,"

Prince Jake said. Tobias flapped up from the ground. Prince Jake looked at me. "Now, listen up, Ax. I know you're feeling bad. For lots of reasons, probably. But you feeling

bad doesn't let you off the hook."

What hook?";

"Look, we got Andalites shooting at

Yeerks. We have no humans in this fight

except for us. Maybe you're not the big expert, but you know more than we know. So snap out of it."

Tobias circled overhead and came quickly

back down to land somewhat painfully on a point of rock. We have about a thousand heavily armed Hork-Bajir on one side, coming toward us

fast. They're backed up by these kind of big, flat, oval ships flying maybe a quarter

mile up and firing Dracon beams. Taxxons

coming behind them. And over there, we have about two dozen Andalite ships, also low down, and maybe a

hundred tough-looking Andalites on the ground.

I may be wrong, but I don't think the good

guys are gonna win this round.";

We should try and reach the Andalite forces,"; I said.

Why, so some other Andalite traitor can

rat us out?"; Rachel said harshly.

My tail blade was at her throat before I

knew it.

She stared at me with cool, blue human

eyes. "What's the matter, Ax? Does the

truth hurt? You blew us off so you could suck up to Captain Creep back there. If we go and

find more Andalites, what happens? You tell us to go sit in a corner and be nice while you start yes, sir-+ and no, sir-+ the next

Andalite you see?"

I pulled my tail blade back,

horrified that I'd gotten so emotional. I

felt the anger drain away. Rachel was right.

I made a mistake trusting Captain

Samilin. I made a mistake dismissing all

of you. You have ... you have kept me alive and befriended me for a long time. All I can say is that none of you knows what it's like to be completely cut off from your own people.";

One of us does,"; Tobias said

quietly.

All I can do is say I'm sorry. And

I will consider Jake my prince until he

says otherwise."; I turned to face Prince Jake, focusing all my eyes on him. ally

are my prince until you, and only you, say

otherwise.";

For once he did not say, "Don't call

me prince."

Instead he said, "Fine. Now what I want to know is this: Is there anyone on the Andalite side we can be totally sure of?"

It was a hurtful question. I felt the last of my pride melting away. The commander. If he were a Yeerk spy, this entire battle would already be lost.";

"It looks pretty lost to me," Marco said bluntly.

Force Commander Prince

Galuit-Enilon-Esgarrouth lost his entire

family to a Yeerk raid on an Andalite

outpost. His entire family: wife and three

children. They died rather than be captured. Their bodies were fed to the Taxxons. We can trust Prince Galuit."; I sighed. And we

probably should trust ... no one else."; It sounded simple: Reach the Andalite forces.

But it is a very dangerous thing, advancing toward a lot of angry, very dangerous, very heavily armed, very nervous warriors.

The automated defensive grid will fire

at anything in the air that comes too close,"; I warned. Anything. If it is more than a few

feet above the ground the sensors will pick it up, target it, and fire.";

"This ground is too rough to walk

over," Cassie said thoughtfully. "And it's getting dark. We could try smaller birds. The seagull morphs again. No, wait! Bats! Not

as fast, but very agile. And with echolocation we can fly close to the ground even in the dark."

"To the bat morph, Robin!" Marco said, with cheerfulness that seemed totally out of place.

"We morph, then we fly, hugging the ground the whole way," Jake said. "Once behind Andalite lines we try and figure out a way to reach this Prince Galuit." He looked at me. "And whatever happens, we stay out of this battle till we reach Galuit. Understood?"

all yes, Prince Jake.";

Prince Jake looked at me with an

unsmiling mouth. Then he said, "Don't call me prince," and formed a small smile with his mouth parts.

all yes, Prince Jake,"; I said.

I had been in bat morph before, and after doing mosquito and fly morphs it seems almost

normal. It has fur, for one thing. And I find fur very comforting, even when it is dark brown and very different from my own blue.

But bats are almost cripples on the ground.

Bat legs are stunted and clumsy, and their

front legs--or arms, whatever--are encumbered by leathery wings. Being unable to run is disturbing for any Andalite.

I focused on the bat, this strange creature

from a strange planet so far away. I shrank, down and down as if I were falling. As if I

might fall into one of the thousands of bubbles in the volcanic rock beneath me.

My front legs withered and left me almost

facedown on the rock. My tail blade

crinkled, like a burning leaf. The crinkling, withering worked its way up my tail.

I couldn't help but picture the tactical

officer in those horrible moments after the captain had struck and cut away his tail. I hadn't liked T.o. Harelin. He seemed to me like too many

older officers: full of prejudices and

arrogance. But he had been a true Andalite.

He had died a hero.

Now my hind legs began to shrink, staying

perfectly symmetrical till they were quite

small. Then, at the last moment, tiny claws

replaced the hooves.

My arms moved back, rotating a

few degrees around my body. My fingers

elongated relative to the rest of the arm, which was shrinking. Skin began to grow in loose,

gray-then-black folds. It hung down from my

arms as if I were wearing very loose human

clothing.

Clothing is pliable fabric designed to cover the human body. Sometimes as protection against the cold. But mostly, as I understand it, because humans believe much of their body to be unacceptable. They are right, of course, but they cover all the wrong parts: There is nothing uglier than a human

nose.

The loose-hanging skin tightened and became

wings. My ears grew larger. And of course, like almost all Earth creatures, I acquired a

mouth.

I could see quite well. Not as well as a bird of prey, but almost as well as a human. But

sight is not the special power of bats. The

special power bats have is the ability to fire a series of ultrasonic sounds that bounce off

solid objects and send back a sonic

picture to the bats.

The Leeran sun was dropping fast. The bat

eyes were already straining to see. But I had a perfectly clear picture of the rocks around me.

Okay, let's go find this Andalite

honcho,"; Marco said.

I flapped my wings and flew. Once more in the company of my human friends.

I felt strangely at home. As though,

despite Prince Jake's anger and Marco's

sneering and Rachel's outright suspicion, I

belonged with them.

For some reason at that moment, even with the images of death aboard the Ascalin fresh in my mind, I saw myself far away, in a very different body, eating delicious cinnamon buns with a mouth.

I wanted to be back there. I wanted to be

back on Earth.

Captain Samilin had sold out to the Yeerks.

Was I selling out to the humans?

I flapped my leathery wings and fired my

echolocation bursts and flew just inches above the rocks. The bat's echolocation sense created a sort of picture, like a sketchy line

drawing, with edges all sharp and clear and

surfaces just sort of scribbled in.

I dived between rocks, and rose just

millimeters before hitting obstructions. I

turned left, right, left in sudden, acrobatic jerks.

This is insane!"; Marco yelled.

Insane can mean several things when used

by Marco. It can mean "stupid" or it can mean

"fun." I think in this case it meant fun. Because as insane as it was, it was exhilarating.

allyee-hah!"; Rachel yelled, then laughed her feral, dangerous laugh.

Soon it was a sort of precarious game:

How close could I fly to the jagged rock edges without ripping a wing or crushing my fragile bat bones in an impact?

And it took my mind off darker, muddier

thoughts.

Then the exquisitely sensitive bat ears,

the ears that could hear the echoes of hypersonic echolocation heard something new. A hum. A

vast, pulsating hum that grew and grew as we flew on.

Prince Jake, I believe we are hearing

the Andalite sensors,"; I said.

Oh, that's what that is?"; Cassie

remarked. Almost like music.";

We flew on, low, occasionally scraping on

jutting rocks. Then--

Whoa! Pull up! Pull up!";

Cassie cried. She was in the lead.

I shot upward.

TSEEEWWWW!

The blast of the Dracon beams and Shredders was deafening. The flashes were blinding to the bat's eyes. Hork-Bajir, twenty at least, were

piling up against a group of three Andalites and two Leerans. The fighting was intense. It would be over in a few minutes.

It would be a slaughter. But Prince Jake

had ordered us to stay out of it. And I would not abandon him and my human friends again.

And yet, a phalanx of Taxxons was moving

in to finish off the wounded Andalites who had already fallen.

To my surprise, it was Cassie who said,

Jake, we should do something.";

Didn't I say we had to stay out of the

battles?"; Prince Jake demanded.

all yeah, that's what you said,"; Tobias answered. So what are we really going to do?"; Prince Jake hesitated. Then he said,

Okay, let's rescue them. Land,

demorph, remorph, fast, fast, fast!";

But before we could land, the entire rock bowl where the Andalites and Leerans stood exploded.

Ka-Booom!

The shock wave sent me spinning through the air.

I landed on my back, half-unconscious,

deafened, blood in my eyes. And overhead the Yeerk ground attack fighter swept by to the

hoarse cheering of the Hork-Bajir.

A huge, clawed foot landed inches from me.

Hork-Bajir ran over me, stampeding in a

forward rush, ignoring the tiny, winged creature that was me. They fired their Dracon beams steadily, yelling with triumph in their voices.

I heard no answering Andalite Shredders.

The Yeerk forces were advancing. The Andalite line was broken.

Prince Jake!"; I called.

Tobias!";

Get in the air!"; Prince Jake yelled

back to all of us. Everyone who can fly, up!

Get up!";

Could I fly? Yes! I rose from the ground just as the first wave of Taxxons came rushing forward.

Taxxons are huge, long worms. Like Earth

centipedes, only much larger. Taxxons live

in a state of eternal hunger. Desperate

hunger. They will eat anything--dead or alive.

Even their own fallen or injured brothers.

I fluttered past an open, questing Taxxon

mouth. I saw a fellow bat, flying just a few feet above me. I saw it very clearly. And then, in an instant, it was gone. Simply gone.

Where's Tobias?"; Rachel cried.

Tobias!"; I cried. He ... he

disappeared!";

What do you mean, he disappeared?";

Prince Jake demanded.

I saw him. I was watching him. And he just

disappeared.";

Now, twenty feet up, I could see more of the battlefield. The line of Hork-Bajir was

already far ahead of us. Taxxons writhed across the dark landscape below.

If there were Andalites anywhere nearby, they had been destroyed. In my mind I

pictured the tactical display aboard the

Ascalin. I could see where we were and where the forces had been arrayed.

We've lost,"; I whispered, not sure if

anyone even heard me. We've lost.";

As if to confirm my grim realization, I saw

the engine flares of a dozen or more distant Andalite ships rising from the surface of planet Leera. Rising, and running for their lives.

We stood, in our own bodies, amid the

filthy, reeking waste the Taxxons had left

behind. We hadn't found Tobias.

Rachel was alternately crying and raging.

Marco was sitting, silent. Cassie kept

holding on to Prince Jake. And Prince

Jake kept pulling away to pace, to mutter

to himself, to wonder half-aloud what he should have done. What he could have done.

I stood off by myself. I couldn't help feeling that I was to blame. I was humiliated. I felt sick. I had turned away from my friends and

trusted my own people instead. One of my own people had betrayed us. And the rest of my people ... well, they had probably fought well and bravely. But they had lost.

Just like the Hork-Bajir war. We had lost

again, and condemned another race to slavery under the Yeerks.

And what a race! The Leerans were

amphibians. They could travel in water or on land, although they built their cities underwater. But the terrifying thing was that the Leerans possessed limited but very real psychic powers.

Leeran-Controllers would be able to see past morphs and into the mind inside. It would be impossible to fool them for long. And if

Leeran-Controllers were ever brought to Earth, their powers would soon reveal the truth of the

Animorphs.

Not that the Animorphs would ever likely be able to return to Earth.

It was Cassie who shook me out of my dark

thoughts. In a whisper she said, "Ax. I don't think Jake wants to have to ask you again, but what do you think we should do?"

I don't know. We've lost. We're on

a strange planet that will soon be under

Yeerk domination. We've failed the Leerans,

as we failed the Hork-Bajir. As we are

failing the humans.";

Past Cassie's head I saw distant red

flares from Yeerk ships dropping from orbit to land more and more troops on the continent. Soon the continent would be an impregnable garrison of Yeerk

forces.

"Tell me more about the Leerans," Cassie said.

I shrugged. I don't really know any more

than you know. They are amphibians. They live primarily in the oceans. Originally I

suppose they came on land to lay their eggs. Now I suppose their technology allows them to do all that in their underwater cities.";

"So why do they even care about what happens on the land?"

They wouldn't care. Except that the Yeerks

can use the continent as a base for attacks against the underwater cities. Other than that, I don't

suppose the Leerans would even ... care ...

what ..."; I stopped breathing. Yes! Of course! Of course that would be Galuit's plan.

"What? What is it?" Cassie demanded sharply.

Prince Jake!"; I cried.

"Yeah?"

We must reach the ocean. If I am right,

some Andalites will be in the Leeran cities. In any case, we must get to the sea as quickly as possible!";

"Why?"

I hesitated. Prince Jake ...

Jake ... you must trust me. We cannot stay on land. We have to reach the water.";

Prince Jake looked at me for a long time.

"Okay," he said at last. "I trust you."

One more thing,"; I said. If at any time it seems the Yeerks may catch us, if it

seems they might take me alive, you must not let them. You must destroy me yourself rather than let them take me. Promise me.";

"What? Why?"

Because I think I know what is going

to happen. And if I am right, this defeat will become the greatest victory in Andalite

history. And that information cannot fall into the hands of the Yeerks. No matter the price. No matter

what.";

The continent was small by continent standards, but it still took the rest of the night to reach the shore. We morphed birds and flew. We stopped when we were near the two-hour limit and rested. And all the while I wondered if there was enough time left.

We flew above scenes of recent carnage.

Burned-out ground skimmers, crumpled Andalite fighters and Yeerk Bug fighters.

As the sun rose on Leera, I looked down

and saw a still-smoldering Andalite ground attack ship crumpled into a Yeerk ship. They had hit so hard that you couldn't tell where one left off and the other began.

And then, finally, there was the sea. It stretched forever, brilliant blue, far more vivid and bright than the oceans of Earth, which are usually gray.

I tried to look around and spot some landmark.

Some outline of coastline that would seem familiar from my faint memory of the holographic maps.

But it was just endless miles of muddy shallows, overgrown with rushes and reeds and strange yellow trees that swirled horizontally.

Big ocean,"; Rachel said. How do

we--";

How do we what?"; Prince Jake asked.

It took several seconds for us to notice,

to realize.

Rachel was gone!

Rachel!"; Cassie cried.

Rachel!";

We searched the sky. Nothing. Not even our

powerful raptor eyes could see anything. No

clue. No sign. Nothing.

What's happening?"; Marco demanded,

angry because he was afraid. She was just here!

She was talking!";

Ax, what is this?"; Prince Jake

asked. First Tobias, now Rachel!";

I don't know. I don't know.";

Maybe someone on the ground shot her,"; Cassie moaned. Oh, God, Rachel!

Rachel!";

There was no Dracon flash,"; I said.

ationothing. One second she was there. The next second she was gone.";

Maybe it was someone or something on the

ground,"; Prince Jake said. We

have to get out of here. Into the water!"; We dove from the sky. I knew no one had

fired at us, but I dove as fast as the humans.

Whatever was making my friends disappear, it scared me. Whatever it was, I didn't want to be in

its sights.

Down we dove, wings back.

Splash!

I went under, plowing into the warm water. I instantly began to demorph. I bobbed to the

surface, already more Andalite than harrier. The water saturated my feathers, but the feathers were disappearing. I sucked air in through a nasty hole that was part beak and part Andalite nose.

I dove under again, and finished demorphing. I surfaced and found Prince Jake, Cassie, and

Marco all treading water, finishing their own demorphing.

"Dolphin morph!" Prince Jake said.

"Ax, you'll have to morph your tiger shark."

"Wait, no!" Cassie said. "We don't know what's in this ocean, but the Yeerks thought hammerhead sharks would be the baddest things around, right? That's why they wanted to create

shark-Controllers to fight in this ocean. We should all go shark."

"Yeah. Good point," Jake agreed.

"Okay, then. Let's go shark. And everyone watch everyone else. We've had two people

disappear. We're not going to have a third!"

Shark, I thought, and began to perform the morph.

I should explain the Earth creatures called

sharks. They are fish. They breathe by extracting oxygen from the water itself, using thin membranes called gills.

But there are many fish in Earth's oceans.

Only a few are called sharks. Some sharks are pleasant, peaceful eaters of plankton.

Others are small and prey only on smaller

fish.

But there are some sharks that humans call

"man-eaters." These sharks are swimming killing machines. If it is possible to imagine a

Yeerk having its own natural body, a body

perfectly adapted for the Yeerk's ruthlessness and destructiveness, the shark would be that body.

It has massively powerful jaws lined with

razor-sharp teeth. It has skin that is literally covered in millions of very tiny teeth. Skin that can rip human flesh. And it has an

array of senses each attuned to one thing: finding prey. Finding and killing.

Excellent eyesight. Excellent sense of

smell that can detect a handful of blood

molecules diluted in a billion gallons of

salt water. An electrical field sensor

that feels the energy of other living creatures.

If some scientist had sat down to design the ultimate seagoing predator, the ultimate

seagoing biological weapon, and had come up with the hammerhead shark, he'd be very proud of his work.

I felt myself morphing the shark. Felt the

scythelike dorsal fins grow from my spine.

Felt my tail blade split to become the

swept-back, skin-slicing tail. Felt my

stalk eyes move out to the sides to become the ugly hammer's head. Felt the new senses come alive in my brain. Felt the teeth--the rows of serrated, triangular, flesh-ripping,

bone-crunching teeth.

And I felt the shark's cold, clear,

brutally focused mind join my own.

I kicked my tail and moved through the water.

Jake, Cassie, and Marco swam beside me. I

suppose, like me, they felt powerful at that moment. And would have felt more powerful still, except for one terrible reality: There should have been six of us.

And now only four sharks swam out into the

Leeran ocean.

I wish Rachel and Tobias were seeing

this,"; Cassie said. Her thought-speak voice was a mix of wonder and bitterness. This is nothing like Earth's oceans.";

It was true. The continent might have been a dull, uninteresting place, but the ocean was amazing. Earth's seas contain many fascinating and wonderful creatures, but most of what you see as you swim there is murky water and a sandy bottom.

In this ocean the water was as clear as air.

Clearer, in fact, than Leeran air, which is so heavy with humidity it sometimes seems like you're breathing clouds.

The water was perfectly, utterly clear. We

were swimming in water that was forty feet deep, and we could see every detail on the ocean floor.

And what detail! Huge, billowing

creatures like white and yellow sails,

triangular with biological propellers at

each corner. Brilliant, electric-blue

worms or snakes, each seventy feet long,

swimming in wild schools. A bizarre

creature that rose and fell through the water by blowing air into a bladder so thin it was almost transparent.

A wonderful sort of fish in the shape of a

screw that rotated its way through the water.

And these creatures weren't scattered here and there, but everywhere. The Leeran ocean was a madhouse of life-forms.

Spread around across the ocean were bubbling chimneys of rock and soil, encrusted with

squirming, writhing creatures, small and less small. My shark senses could feel the

electrical discharge from these chimneys, and the intense warmth.

As I watched, a massive school of the

brilliant blue worms came swirling around

one of the chimneys. It swirled and my shark senses could feel the energy flow from the chimney into the worms.

Look at that!"; Cassie cried,

excitement overcoming her sadness. A thousand marine biologists could stay happy for a hundred years just studying this one small area. The animals. The plants. The ... the whatevers!

I wish I knew more. I know this friend of my mom's who studies the ecology of coral

reefs. She would cut off her arm to spend an hour here!";

The creatures are feeding off the geothermal energy and electrical charge from these chimneys,"; I said. This may be an environment without

predators.";

It has predators,"; Marco said darkly.

The Yeerks are here. And we're here. For

now. Until suddenly we go "poof!" like Rachel and Tobias.";

That brought us all back to reality. Still, even afraid, even sad, even desperate, we could not ignore the wild, incredible scene all around us.

We glided, dark and deadly, through a peaceful sea. The Yeerks had been clever to consider using sharks to control this ocean. Wherever I looked I saw no razor teeth, no crushing jaws.

Marco was right: There were predators here. But they were us.

And then ...

Hey, aren't those Leerans?";

Prince Jake said. Down and to the left."; I looked. Yes, they looked like the one

Leeran we had seen on Earth in the company of Visser One.

They were mostly yellow. They had skin that was slimy, as if covered with ooze, yet rough in texture, like gravel. They had large, webbed back legs. For arms they had four tentacles

arrayed around their plump, barrel-shaped bodies.

The head was quite large, with a bulge at the back.

It sat right on the shoulders. There was no neck.

The face bulged outward and seemed to have just two features. A huge, wide, almost ridiculous

mouth. And big, bulging eyes of a green that seemed almost to be lit from inside.

There were four Leerans. They were riding on water jets. The water jets were long, narrow tubes, flared in front to make a sort of wing, flared again in back to give extra

maneuverability. Arrayed along the back wing were clusters of very narrow tubes pointed forward.

They had obviously spotted us and were coming toward us.

Probably wondering what we are,";

Cassie said cautiously. They've never seen

sharks.";

These are the good guys, right?"; Marco said.

I mean, these are the guys everyone's trying to save from the Yeerks.";

all yes. Maybe we should contact them. They

could lead us to the nearest Leeran city."; Do it,"; Prince Jake said.

Leerans!"; I yelled. Leerans! I

am an Andalite in morph.";

Chuh-wooomp!

The spear flew through the water only slightly slower than a human bullet. I jerked left.

Too late! The spear pierced my tail and

kept on flying.

Hey!"; Marco yelled.

I'm an Andalite! Andalite!"; I

cried. allyr friend! Your ally!";

Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill and three

humans from planet Earth. Not our allies,"; a cold, thought-speak voice said. He laughed.

ally have no secrets from these psychic Leeran minds.";

And suddenly the water boiled with the firing of a dozen spears.

Chuh-woomp! Chuh-wooomp!

This time we were more prepared. Still, we were not fast enough. A spear hit me in the side and stuck.

Prince Jake avoided being hit, but Cassie

was speared through and through. Marco was hit twice.

Shark blood billowed.

The Leeran-Controllers laughed. Die,

Andalite! Die, humans! We'll carry your

bodies to Visser Four!";

Hey, great war! You can't tell who's on

what side,"; Marco yelled. What is this, Vietnam?";

Three of us had been hit. But none of us was dead. The spears were fast, but very thin. No doubt they were deadly to Leerans or to other creatures of this gentle ocean.

But we were only hurt. Not crippled.

We don't seem to be dead, just yet,";

I said to the Leeran-Controllers.

The Leeran-Controllers gaped with their big

green eyes.

But ... but the haru-chin spears are

deadly!"; one of the Leerans said. He sounded like he was pouting.

ationah. Maybe around here they're deadly,"; Prince Jake said. But we're from a much

tougher neighborhood.";

Think it's true what they say about

frogs?"; Marco asked. Think it's true that they taste like chicken?";

We launched toward the Leeran-Controllers.

Sharks are very fast in short bursts. Too fast for the shocked Yeerks inside the Leerans

to react.

They tried to turn their water jets around. They were still trying when they were hit by four frustrated, scared, angry people in shark morph.

Andalites understand about tail fighting. But there is something very intimate and intimately violent about attacking with a mouth. You have to get very close.

You smell and feel and touch your enemy.

We hit, mouths open. We hit, and in a

flash the four Leeran-Controllers were off their water jets and trying to swim away.

They kicked their big hind legs, but they were too slow. Using their psychic powers, they could feel our anger. It must have been terrible for them.

It must have been terrifying.

I didn't care.

But then ... I was rocked by a powerful psychic vision. A vision that cried out in despair and agony and desperate hope.

One of the Leerans had managed to squeeze out this plea for help. The Yeerk in his head was busy trying to stay alive, and the real Leeran had seized the moment to send this vision.

The picture that appeared in my head was

grizzly and awful. But I knew it was real.

Prince Jake! Bite their heads! Bite

off the large lobe at the back!";

What?"; Cassie cried. They're

beaten already. I'm not going to kill them."; I lunged for the nearest Leeran-Controller.

The Yeerk in his head knew what I was doing, but when he tried to jerk aside I slapped him with my tail, stunning him.

I opened my mouth, then bit down hard on the lobe at the back of his head.

But what was most shocking to see was the Yeerk itself. It was ripped from the Leeran's head. The Yeerk writhed, helpless in the seawater.

The Yeerks are positioned in their rear brain lobes,"; I said. Bite them off!";

It will kill the Leerans!"; Cassie said.

.ationo,"; a strange voice said. ..It

will free us!";

It was four of us against the three remaining Leerans. It was short but brutal work. Four

doomed Yeerks writhed, fatally out of place in the Leeran water.

.Thank you!"; the Leerans said. It

wasn't normal thought-speak. It was deeper than that. Images, ideas that appeared in our minds that we then translated into words.

ally need medical help,"; Cassie said.

Maybe I could demorph and--";

..ationo, we will be fine. We can regenerate most body parts. It will take some time and we will be weak, but there are caves nearby where we can rest and be safe. Thank you! Thank you!";

I've experienced some strange events. But

four bright yellow Leerans with half their heads removed actually thanking us was definitely one of the strangest.

We need to reach the nearest Leeran city,"; Prince Jake said. Which way is it?";

..It will be very difficult. In the last

months the Yeerks have captured many of us

and forced us to be Controllers. There are many like us between here and the City of Worms. You are powerful, but if even one Leeran-Controller encounters you and then escapes, your secret will be discovered."; So how do we get there?"; Prince Jake

wondered aloud.

Morph the Leerans,"; I said.

.all yes!"; the Leerans cried. ..all yes, morph us. Take our water jets. As long as

you stay away from other Leerans, you will be safe from psychic probing.";

Cassie said, We don't like to--";

.all yes,"; a Leeran responded, reading her thoughts. ..ally do not like to morph sentient creatures. You respect our freedom. But we

offer you this freely. We have read what is in the mind of Aximili the Andalite. We know what

he suspects, and we know that even among the Andalites there are traitors. So, friends, carry our DNA and help to free our people from the Yeerks.";

We rose to the surface. I demorphed. The

humans demorphed. We lay there treading

water, rising and falling on the gentle Leeran swells. The Leeran sun was still low on the

horizon, coming up on another day. It turned the water golden around us.

I reached and pressed my hand against a

Leeran's slimy yellow flesh.

..Where sky meets sea, Andalite,

human, and Leeran are joined as allies,"; my Leeran said. ..Each with our weaknesses.

Each with our strengths.";

It moved me somehow, as ludicrous as it might have looked to an outsider. Humans and an

Andalite wallowing clumsily beside big, yellow

"psychic frogs," as Marco called them.

Three species on a world conquered by the Yeerks.

We probably would have seemed pathetic to any Yeerk who happened to see us.

A fellow Andalite told me we were weak

because we are not united. We do not speak with one voice,"; I said. But this union does not feel weak.";

Free people who get together to defend freedom are never weak.";

It was Marco who said that. Maybe you can see why, despite all their strangeness, I like

humans. And I was starting to like Leerans.

We let the Leerans go their own way

to their underwater caves to recover from their injuries.

And we began what might be the most bizarre

morph any of us has ever done. The physical

part was strange, but no more disturbing than any number of Earth creatures I've morphed. The

powerful webbed feet in back, the four sinuous tentacles, the neckless head were almost ordinary compared to the body of a fly or a cockroach.

It was the new sense that was stunning: the psychic sense. It wasn't that I could read every thought in the heads of Prince Jake and Cassie and Marco.

But I could feel enough of their secrets to be embarrassed for them. And, of course, for myself.

Because my own secrets, my vain little ideas, my pretensions were all open to them as well.

I could see so clearly that Marco was hoping for some news of his mother, Visser One. He wondered if she was here on Leera, if she had survived our last encounter.

I could see and feel Prince Jake's

crushing weight of responsibility. The way he kept running things through in his mind, over and over again. Trying to figure out what had happened to Tobias and Rachel. Desperate to find a

way to protect the rest of us.

And I could feel Cassie's mind as she

cried for Rachel and Tobias. As she wondered whether we were doing the right thing. As she dealt with the aftereffects of the violence we'd just endured.

Well,"; Marco said, obviously

uncomfortable. I would just like you all to know that whatever thoughts of mine you're reading are totally made up. They aren't real.";

Same here,"; Prince Jake said quickly.

Absolutely.";

Hey,"; Cassie said, ^the are just

morphs to us, right? Lots of times we have trouble controlling the brain of the morph. But we usually handle it. So maybe--";

Maybe since these are just morphs to us,

maybe we can turn off the psychic thing!"; Marco said, clutching at the idea.

Then, one by one, I felt their minds close

to me. And I closed my own.

It seemed suddenly very lonely as we grabbed the water jets and rode away through the brilliantly alive sea. Suddenly very lonely.

But I guess each species feels most

comfortable when they are just themselves. And for humans and Andalites, secrets and lies and the

loneliness of privacy are natural.

We passed through a loose ring of

Leeran-Controllers set up around the far edges of the City of Worms. None challenged us. We were riding Yeerk-issued water jets, and we

stayed far enough off that no one could read our thoughts.

The Leeran city rose from the seabed like a

wondrous tower, perhaps half a thousand feet wide at its base, dwindling to a few dozen feet at the very top. The top pressed right against the sparkling water ceiling, up to the border between sea and sky.

At the very top, huge fans sucked in air and blew out exhaust from the entire city.

The city itself violated every logical law, at least as far as Andalites or humans were concerned.

Andalites and humans are accustomed to moving in two dimensions, left and right, forward and back.

But in the water, up and down were just as likely as left or right.

It looks like a gigantic Dairy Queen

cone, poked full of a million holes,";

Cassie said. Look! Doors everywhere.

Windows and doors all the same.";

The predominant color was pink. But there was blue and green and purple as well, in vast

swatches of seemingly random color. Openings were everywhere. Leerans drifted in and out and around and through, a hundred feet up, twenty feet below us, everywhere.

And like some slow-motion tornado, the long, electric-blue worms swam around and around the City of Worms. They formed an eerie halo.

Even as strangers, we could tell the city was tense. There were weapons poking from many of the windows.

And nestled up against the base of the city, floating free, were two craft I'd seen only in

pictures: Andalite submarines.

Are those good guys or bad guys?";

Prince Jake asked, gazing at the submarines.

Or a little of each?"; Marco asked

dryly.

They are Andalite vessels,"; I said.

Let's go say hello,"; Prince Jake

said.

We swam toward the submarines. As we got

nearer we could see that a transparent tunnel had been set up between the subs and the city.

Andalite warriors were rushing through the tunnel on urgent errands, their tails cocked and ready.

Down we went, sifting air from the water with our Leeran skin. Down we went, expecting at

any moment to be challenged, even shot. But we passed through dozens of Leerans who made no move to stop us.

It's the psychic thing,"; Cassie said.

They know who we are and why we're here."; Then I guess they know who we're looking

for,"; Prince Jake said.

And to my amazement, an answer came. It was

a vision that filled my head: a sort of arrow showing a doorway we should enter.

Ooookay,"; Marco said. I guess

we follow the yellow brick road.";

We entered the city through one of the thousands of windows. I don't know what I expected

inside, but it wasn't what I found. The tower was merely a shell. Inside were seven or eight,

maybe more, huge, floating, transparent

bubbles. In each bubble there were levels, a dozen or more floors. There were open holes in the bottoms of the bubbles. Some seemed to be filled with water. Others were filled with air. All contained Leerans doing work, sleeping, living. And one, mostly air, contained perhaps two dozen Andalites on one floor.

We entered the bubble from the bottom and stepped out at last onto dry ground. Two Andalite

warriors were waiting.

Demorph,"; one said curtly. The

Leerans have told us who you are. Commander

Galuit is waiting.";

So humility is just not something you Andalites do, is it?"; Marco asked.

We demorphed. It felt good to be Andalite

again. But I was worried. I was nervous. I had given my word to Prince Jake that he, and only he, would decide whose orders I should obey. It had seemed easy to make that promise before. But now we were going to see Galuit! The idea of saying no to him ... it made me gasp.

We rushed and stumbled to the room where Galuit waited. Only he wasn't waiting. He was

rushing forward to meet us. He was flanked by three tough-looking Andalite security guards, and

accompanied by his aide, an Andalite who had lost one stalk eye and half his face from a war injury.

.Aristh Aximili,"; Galuit said without

bothering to introduce himself.

all yes, sir, I--";

ationo time,"; he said with a dismissive wave of his hand. I'm a member of the highest circles, so I know all about your escapades on Earth.

Yours and Elfangor's. Very disappointed in

Elfangor. Although, by the galaxy, your brother could fight! I don't know how you came to be here with these humans of yours, but it is a stroke of luck! We need you.";

I was almost completely bowled over. First of all, Galuit even knowing my name was incredible.

It would be as if a human child were sitting at home by the telephone and suddenly got a call from the head general of the army.

Second, Galuit needed me? Needed?

Me?

Sir, may I introduce this human named

Jake?";

I said I need you. Now stand to attention and listen to my--";

Sir, this is Jake. My prince.";

That stopped Galuit in mid-yell. The

guards all stared incredulously at Prince

Jake. Then at me. Then at Marco and

Cassie, as if they might be able to explain.

Every warrior must have a prince to follow, and the princes must obey the People,"; I said.

Galuit looked like he was seriously considering using his old tail on me. But then he nodded stiffly. Just so, Aristh. No one is a law

unto themselves. We each must serve.";

Galuit turned to speak to Prince Jake.

I have need of you to save this planet from the Yeerks. Will you--";

all yes,"; Prince Jake said.

ally say yes without knowing what I'm

asking.";

Will it save the Leerans? Will it keep them

free? And most of all, will it hurt the

Yeerks?";

all yes to all three. Especially the last.

If we save Leera it may turn the tide of the war against the Yeerks.";

Then we'll do it.";

Galuit seemed surprised. Maybe even

impressed. In private thought-speak he said

to me, I have known worse princes than this

one.";

Galuit explained what he needed and why.

It was exactly what I had suspected. The

reason we had to flee the land and take to the sea.

The reason I could not risk being taken by the Yeerks: It had all been a trap.

A trap for the Yeerks.

We knew the Yeerks would take the battle

to the continent,"; Galuit said. And we thought it very likely they would defeat us there. So we had a backup plan. We have planted a series of

quantum bombs around the continent. Our plan was to wait until the Yeerks had moved all their troops down to the continent, then explode the bombs.";

I nodded. all yes, I suspected this.";

Prince Jake looked at me out of the corner

of his eyes, then raised one eyebrow. It

wasn't an angry look, as I interpret

human expressions. It was a little reproachful, though.

We had transferred to one of the submarines and were already racing at maximum speed, south to a point on the continent.

The Leerans don't need the continent. They

are quite happy in their underwater cities,"; Galuit said. But there's been some kind of

problem with setting off the bombs. Our forces were overrun much too quickly. With the Ascalin's forces we should have held out longer. The main switch was never armed. We've been beaming the destruct signal for hours. Nothing. And the Yeerks will soon discover our trap. It's now or never."; I hesitated. Should I tell Galuit why

our forces were so easily overrun? I took a

deep breath. Sir, the Ascalin was never in

the fight.";

Galuit swiveled both stalk eyes toward

me. What?";

Captain Samilin was ... a traitor,";

I said. He set the ship toward a landing behind Yeerk lines. He was killed. Once it was

clear the Ascalin could not escape, Tactical Officer Harelin made the decision to fire all weapons while on the ground. No one survived.

Except for us and two of our friends who have disappeared.";

I could see Galuit slump. He

seemed suddenly older. More frail.

"Why us?" Marco asked. "Why do you need us to go in and arm this switch?"

We have few Andalites here on the planet

now. And none who possess the wide array of

morphs you have,"; Galuit explained. All Andalite warriors are morph-capable. But few acquire morphs or use them. That is mostly

done by our people in intelligence. Spies. But you four may be able to penetrate the Yeerk forces."; Suddenly he looked confused. His eyes went

left, then right. I was sure it was four. Where is the other human?";

A cold lance of fear struck my hearts.

Prince Jake was still there. Cassie, too. But Marco ...

"Marco!" Prince Jake cried.

"Marco! Marco!"

We are disappearing one by one!"; I said.

Galuit yelled a thought-speak summons that was heard clear through the submarine. Science

officer, report to me, right now!";

"This is insane!" Cassie said, her eyes blazing. "What is happening? One by one we're disappearing."

Cold fear wormed through my insides. I

felt sorry for Marco and the others. Very sorry.

But now I was more afraid than anything. It

didn't take too much imagination to figure out that the rest of us would be disappearing eventually.

It's one thing to face an enemy. It's very

different to wait, powerless, for some unseen force to simply ... delete you.

The sub raced on through the bright Leeran sea.

But there was no time to enjoy the view. Prince Jake, Cassie, and I were surrounded

by Andalites. We were cross-examined by the sub's science officer. In between questions from him we were bombarded by questions from Galuit and a

counterintelligence officer.

It was nerve-racking. But at least it kept my mind off the awful suspense of waiting ...

waiting ... waiting for another one of us

to disappear.

How long were you in Zero-space?";

Are you sure Captain Samilin knew the

ship was heading for Yeerk lines?";

What was the mass of the creature you morphed on Earth before being dragged into Zero-space?"; Did Captain Samilin seem

embittered, stressed?";

At last, after an hour, Galuit put an

end to it. Enough! Samilin was a traitor.

We have to accept that."; He turned to the science officer. And you've asked the same questions fifty times. Give me a hypothesis.";

Sir, I don't have enough--"; the science officer started to say.

Just give me your best guess!"; Galuit

demanded.

I ... I think these humans and this aristh

are still caught in a residual flux field. It is pulling them back toward Zero-space. It

may even be snapping them all the way back

to Earth. But my best guess is that what's

happening is a sort of elastic effect. They were stretched through Zero-space and back into normal space, but a small amount of their mass is still back on Earth. It may be acting like an

anchor.";

"We're on some big Zero-space rubber

band?" Prince Jake asked. "It's been stretching all this time, and now it's starting to snap back?"

all yes,"; the science officer said, after I explained what a rubber band was.

"Maybe all the way back to Earth, in which case Rachel and Tobias and Marco are

alive," Cassie said. "Or maybe just into Zero-space. In which case ..."

From the data you've given me, the effect

appears to be accelerating,"; the science officer said. ally will go, one by one, faster and faster now.

Like your friends, you will each disappear."; Galuit said, Under these circumstances, I

cannot ask you to carry out this mission."; Prince Jake shrugged. "Under these

circumstances, it doesn't look like we have

anything to lose."

We were briefed by one of Galuit's officers.

The central arming unit is well hidden.

It is in what the Leerans call a "bright hole." Here on Leera the volcanic past

created a number of large, underground bubbles in the rock. Because the rock contains a great many phosphorescent minerals and bio-organisms,

there is light in these holes, and thus,

life.";

"What kind of life?" Cassie asked.

Even now, she was interested in living things.

Plant only, aside from insects and

microscopic animals. This particular "bright hole" can only be reached two ways: Either someone on the surface must tunnel down through several feet of rock. Or one must travel underwater, up a river, enter an underwater cave, pass through an absolutely lightless tunnel, and emerge

at last in the "bright hole.""; Prince Jake took a deep breath.

Cassie took a deep breath. I took a

deep breath. We each looked at each other.

Galuit said, That's not all. The river itself may be guarded by Leeran-Controllers. The

lightless cave is inhabited by a species of

snake that uses echolocation to strike at anything passing by. These snakes hang from the ceilings and walls. But once within the "bright hole" you are safe. Unless, of course, the Yeerks have already found it.";

"Is it too late for us to change our minds?"

Prince Jake said.

Galuit looked alarmed.

It is humor,"; I said quickly.

Human humor often consists of pretending

to wish something one does not really wish.";

"What makes you so sure I don't mean

it?" Prince Jake muttered.

More humor,"; I explained to Galuit.

The submarine took us to the mouth of the river. It was as close as it could take us without becoming far too visible for safety.

"I know the oceans are saltwater here, just like on Earth," Cassie said. "But how about the rivers?"

The rivers are lower saline,"; the briefing officer said.

Cassie shook her head. "Hammerheads are saltwater fish. I don't know how they'd deal with freshwater. I just don't know. But they're still probably the best morph for moving fast and winning fights."

Good luck,"; Galuit said. The

freedom of this planet rests on your tails.

Or ... or whatever humans have that would be the equivalent of tails.";

"Shoulders," Cassie said.

"As long as there's no pressure,"

Prince Jake said.

That would be human humor?"; Galuit

asked.

"Plus a little human fear," Prince Jake said. But then he laughed.

Five minutes later, we were in the river,

swimming against the current, our dorsal fins slicing upward into the air.

This should be interesting,"; Prince Jake said darkly.

I smell Leerans,"; I said. Up

ahead. I recognize the smell from before."; allyep,"; Cassie agreed. Good

Leerans or bad? That's the question.";

We powered ahead. Through the slightly murky river water we saw them: two pebbly, yellow, tentacled amphibians.

Psychic amphibians.

As soon as we were within range of them, the Leerans knew what we were. They turned and

swam away as if their lives depended on it.

After them!"; Prince Jake cried.

They were heading for the banks of the river. Trying to get up, out of the water, beyond our reach. They didn't have water jets, just their natural

Leeran bodies.

We were faster, but the bank was close, closer!

The water grew shallow. No more than seven

feet. Five feet! The Leerans were kicking

up mud, but my shark senses could feel the

electrical field of the Leerans now.

Blind, scraping my belly in mud, I

lunged.

My teeth bit down. I clamped and held

on and struggled to pull the creature back out into the water.

But then, up through the ripply surface I saw a huge, looming Hork-Bajir. Two, no,

four of them! They came stomping out into the water.

I pulled back. I tried to turn as the

Leeran kept fighting me.

Then I heard the Leeran's psychic cry to the Hork-Bajir. ..Explosives! The whole

continent is rigged to explode. There's a central switch. Bright hole! It's in a--";

I bit down harder. The pain stopped the

Leeran from saying more. A Hork-Bajir blade

slashed down into the water. It sliced me, but not deep.

I let go of the Leeran, jerked my

head right, bit down with all my might on the nearest Hork-Bajir's leg. I heard a

howl of pain come burbling down through the water.

The Leeran was scrambling away. Still

half-blind, I lunged.

The Hork-Bajir had backed off. And now

I dragged the Leeran-Controller back out

into deeper water.

ationo!"; the Yeerk in his head cried.

Oh, yes,"; I said. I swept behind him

and bit off the lobe at the back of his head. Out came the Yeerk.

Are you okay, brother Leeran?"; I

asked.

..I am now. Thank you, my Andalite

friend! Hurry. Hurry! The Yeerks know your

mission now! Hurry!";

I turned back upstream. Cassie and

Jake fell in beside me. They had each had their own battles in the murky, shallow water.

How long will it take the Yeerks to find this

"bright hole"?"; Prince Jake asked.

Using the sensors aboard their orbiting

ships, they will have a map of every subsurface cavern on the continent within five minutes. How long to find the right "bright hole"? I don't know.

We must hurry. The fate of this planet

depends on us.";

There! Is that the underwater cave entrance?"; Cassie cried.

I think so. It's in the right area. But there could be dozens of caves.";

ationo time to worry about it,"; Prince Jake said.

We plunged into the mouth of the cave. The floor rose steadily and we swam on grimly, blind,

scared, and in a desperate hurry.

Suddenly I felt my snout break the

surface. Air!

I think we're there,"; Prince Jake

said. Demorph! Cassie, what do you think?

Bat morphs?";

There was no answer.

Cassie! Cassie!"; Prince Jake

cried.

The rubber band effect. She's gone. Back

to Earth. Or ...";

It's happening faster,"; Prince Jake

said. Less time between people disappearing. Just two of us now. We could both be snapped back before we reach this switch.";

He sounded like I felt. Like he couldn't

breathe. Like he couldn't stop his heart from pounding.

It was too much!

Demorph. Nothing to do now but hurry and

try to get this job done!"; Prince Jake said.

all yes, Prince Jake,"; I said.

ally know, Ax, there's just the two of us now.

We could probably drop the whole "prince"

thing."; He paused, then added, ally could just call me "The Jake formerly known as

Prince."";

Is that a bit of humor?";

all yeah. A joke. Not much of one, but Marco isn't here, so I figure ...";

At that point he made the transition to mostly human and lost his thought-speak ability. I

emerged as Andalite, standing in a cold,

absolutely black cave, with water still sloshing over my hooves.

"Bat," Prince Jake said. His mouth-sounds echoed slightly.

I focused on the bat. I felt myself

shrinking, although there was nothing to see for comparison.

But I could almost feel an upward breeze as I dropped from my own height down to the stumpy, few inches of the bat.

Just you and me now, Ax.";

all yes.";

If one of us is stopped, for any reason,

the other one has to keep going. Clear?"; We fired echolocation bursts and saw the

sketchy portrait of a cave that stretched on and on, far past our faintest ultrasonic echoes.

We took to wing. We flapped up on leather

wings and raced at full, tearing speed.

We have to remember the snakes,"; I said.

Ugh. Ughughugh,"; Prince Jake said with a sort of shudder.

all yes,"; I agreed.

We flapped as if our lives depended on

it. Through jutting rocks and stalactites, around sudden turns, up sudden chimneys, and down

sudden wells. All of it reduced to colorless lines in our mind's eye. A sketch drawn with blasts of sound.

Around one hairpin turn and suddenly

...

A blast of sounds! A cacophony of

echolocating squeaks and trills.

The snakes!"; I cried.

Our own echolocation showed them as writhing lines that hung from the low ceiling and reached out from the walls. There were thousands! Millions! All

firing their own echolocations, yammering and confusing the echoes of our own blasts.

Suddenly, in all the ultrasonic noise, the

pictures in my head became distorted. Wild,

swerving, swooping lines. Writhing borders of objects that no longer seemed solid.

What do we do?"; Prince Jake asked.

As Rachel would say if she were here: We go

for it!";

It was a nightmare! Deadly snakes filled

the air. Lost, confused, we powered on, flapping wings that became more and more shredded as more and more snakes found their target.

I was losing maneuverability. Losing speed.

I had lost sight of Prince Jake altogether. I could no longer tell up from down. I was spinning, flapping madly, afraid and confused. Lost!

Lost in a squirming madhouse of darkness.

And then, swoosh! I blew free of the

snakes. The cave walls backed off. The

ceiling was gone. And light! Blessed light was glowing all around me.

I was in the "bright hole."

I soared upward on tattered, shredded wings.

Up into the stale air. Everywhere flowers and plants in absurd colors exploded from the

walls of the hole.

Prince Jake! Jake!"; I called.

But there was no answer.

Quite suddenly, I was all alone.

I landed on a clump of screamingly orange

mold or lichens or ... something. And began

to demorph.

Within minutes I was standing alone, an Andalite in a bizarre underworld universe cut off from the world outside.

The "bright hole" was perhaps five hundred feet at its longest, half that wide. The roof was no more than a hundred feet over my head. It was very large for a hole in the ground. But it

felt very small.

No rain had ever fallen here. No sun had

ever shone here. The only light was from the greenish glow of the walls. A light that never grew brighter, never grew dim.

It was alive, but dead-feeling. A wonder of

nature, but a creeping, spirit-crushing place.

In the center of the place was the only

artificial object: a vertical cylinder,

five feet tall, a foot in diameter. On

the side was a control pad, showing glowing blue numbers. Right where Galuit had said it would be.

Just as Andalite intelligence agents had placed it.

I looked cautiously around. But I saw no

Hork-Bajir, no Taxxons, no Gedds.

Just unnatural plants in an unnatural

place.

I exhaled, trying to shed my tension. Whoever decided to hide this thing here sure picked a good hiding place,"; I said.

I began to trot toward the cylinder. But the ground was rough, rising, falling, overrun with mosses and molds and clumps of hideous

flowers. There were no paths.

I ended up having to step carefully, only able to hurry when I was sure of a place to leap.

Ba-Whoooom!

An explosion rocked the room. The concussion, trapped in that hole, knocked me off my feet and left me temporarily deaf.

Brilliant light!

Falling rock and debris.

A hole had been blown into the top of the "bright hole." Leeran sunlight streamed down in a blinding shaft.

And down, down through the shaft of light, the Hork-Bajir dropped.

Their fall was slowed by small rockets on their feet and tails. The rockets burned red.

Two, four, a dozen Hork-Bajir warriors

falling in slow motion, unlimbering their Dracon beams. I could see them peering about as they fell, searching for the cylinder. And for me.

I ran. I didn't care if I broke a

leg. I ran, I leaped, I fell and lurched

back up.

It was a race between falling Hork-Bajir and me.

Tseeewww!

ZzzzaaaaPPPP!

The Dracon beam stabbed at me, missed, and

boiled a bright blue cabbage into steam.

Just a few more feet!

Suddenly, my hands were pressed on the cold

metal. The code! What was the code?

My fingers flew.

Tssseeewww! Tseeewww!

"Het gafrash nur!" a Hork-Bajir

screamed.

Tsseeewww!

Aaaahhh!"; I felt a burn across my

back, a glancing blow from a Dracon beam.

The code! The code! I entered it. Was I

right? Had I remembered?

Then ...

System armed."; The cool, thought-speak voice of the computer. Warning. This system is armed.";

I collapsed, leaning back against the cylinder.

Galuit had said once they got confirmation that we had armed the system, they'd wait half an hour to give us time to escape.

Half an hour would be too long. The Yeerks

would be able to disarm it by then.

A huge Hork-Bajir hit the ground right in

front of me.

I punched the built-in communicator on the

cylinder. This is Aristh Aximili,"; I

said. Do it now. Do it now! Blow the Yeerks

off this planet!";

"Filshig Andalite!" the Yeerk inside the Hork-Bajir screamed.

I was calm. Shockingly calm.

Detonation in ten seconds,"; the computer warned.

"Disarm that weapon!" the Hork-Bajir commander yelled, switching to Galard, the interstellar language.

Seven ...";

I don't think so, Yeerk. This time you

lose. This time, you die.";

Five ...";

The Hork-Bajir raised his Dracon beam

in rage. "You'll die first, Andalite scum!"

Three ...";

He squeezed the trigger.

The Dracon beam fired. Point-blank

range. Five feet from my face.

One ...";

I literally saw the Dracon beam stop. The

beam stopped in midair as time froze. I heard a "pop!"

And suddenly, I was no longer there.

I felt the warm, human skin beneath my six

legs. What?"; I yelped.

What the ...?"; Rachel yelled.

Whoa! Whoa, I am serious: Whoa!";

Marco cried. This is way too strange."; I was back. On Earth. In mosquito

morph.

We were all back. All back! And all at

the same exact moment.

We were in the hospital room, surrounded

by human-Controllers who were busy firing human guns out the window at the bushes below. Still trying to kill the Andalite.

Me.

But that was not the biggest problem I had. Because right then, as I sat on vibrating human flesh,

surrounded by giant hairs, a huge,

sky-filling object came hurtling down toward me.

ationo way!"; Rachel yelled. Ax,

move out!";

I fired my wings.

The object, five fingers each as big around as a large tree, came slapping down at me.

"Ow!" said Hewlett Aldershot the Third, as he slapped the spot where I'd been busily biting him.

"Ow!" he said again.

"The human! He's awake!" one of the human-Controllers said.

"He's not supposed to wake up yet!"

another moaned. "He's in a coma!"

"What do we do?"

"The Visser will kill us!"

"The police are coming. We can't be taken!"

"Run! Run!"

"What do we do with this Aldershot human?"

"We have no orders."

"Run!" someone yelled again. And this time, the rest agreed.

There came a loud vibrating thunder as the

human-Controllers all raced from the room in a panic.

Moments later, a frightened nurse came in.

"Mr. Aldershot! You're ... you're

conscious."

"Of course I'm conscious," he said.

"Nurse, are you aware that this room is full of mosquitoes?"

"So wait a minute here," Rachel said.

"We get zapped back here through Zero-space, one by one, at different times. But when we get back here, we all arrive at the same moment?

And no time has passed?"

I nodded my human head. We were at the

mall. At the place where the excellent food

places are. I was in human morph. Behaving

perfectly like a human. "Exactly, Rachel.

Eggs-Act'-lee. Zactly. We arrived

back at the precise moment when we were snatched away. We were all yanked away at the same

moment, so naturally we all arrived back at the same moment. Yanked. Yanked is a strange

word. Yank. Yank-kut."

"Yeah," Marco said. "That's what's strange: the word "yanked." Us turning into mosquitoes to suck some guy's blood so we could morph into him and instead ending up in the middle of some war to control psychic yellow frogs, and oh, by the way, blowing up a small continent full of Yeerks, saving an entire species, then

getting back here to find out Coma-man woke up from a mosquito bite delivered by a morphed

alien-slash-deer-slash-scorpion-slash-four-

eyed centaur, that's all totally normal.

That's just an average day. Dear Diary: another boring average day, till someone said

"yanked.""

I recognized his tone. Sarcasm. It

is a form of humor. So I laughed using

mouth-sounds.

"Hah. Hah-hah. Hah. Hah." I

considered, then added, "Hah."

Prince Jake, Cassie, Marco,

Rachel, and Tobias, in his own human morph,

all stared at me.

"What was that?" Rachel demanded.

"I laughed."

"Don't ... don't do that, Ax," Prince Jake said. "It's disturbing somehow."

"Yes, Prince Jake."

"Don't call me prince."

"I will call you "The Jake formerly known as Prince.""

Marco made a horrified face. "Oh,

no. Now he's making jokes. Bad, bad

jokes."

"Actually, that was my joke," Prince Jake said stiffly. "Oh, fine. I get it. You can't laugh at my jokes. Okay. Great. I

don't even care."

I was an Andalite, all alone, far, far from

home. Far from my own people. Except that sometimes your own people are not just the ones who look like you.

Sometimes the people who are your own can be very different from you.

"Can we eat cinnamon buns now?" I asked hopefully. "Bun-zuh?"

THE END