Animorphs - The Decision Part 5

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 p.r.o.ne, oozing attractive aromas.

I fluttered on gossamer wings and landed. I was on a rough, uneven surface. There were b.u.mps 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 rus.h.i.+ng through arteries and veins.

And then ...

POP!.

CHAPTER 11.

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

I was in s.p.a.ce. White, empty Zero-s.p.a.ce!

8Whaa ...? What? Z-s.p.a.ce?"; 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 rus.h.i.+ng over me. Already the lack of oxygen was beginning to cloud my brain. My eyes were going blind. My limbs were numb.

Zero-s.p.a.ce! 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.

8Prince 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 s.p.a.ce. There were no stars or planets. Nothing exists in Zero-s.p.a.ce.

I happened to catch sight of a silvery, graceful creation, perhaps half a mile away.

A s.h.i.+p! As with the bodies, I saw the inside and outside of the s.h.i.+p 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 s.h.i.+p!

Its Zero-s.p.a.ce 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 ma.s.s is extruded into Zero-s.p.a.ce.

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 s.p.a.ce, 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 ma.s.s being pushed into Zero-s.p.a.ce. They asked whether some s.h.i.+p traveling through Zero-s.p.a.ce 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 s.h.i.+p 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-s.p.a.ce.

8Aboard the Andalite s.h.i.+p!"; I cried with all the power I could still muster. 8Andalite s.h.i.+p!

Andalite s.h.i.+p! We're trapped in your wake and dying. Help! Andalite s.h.i.+p, 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.

8Andalite s.h.i.+p! Help! Help!"; I cried. 8Help ..."; 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 s.h.i.+p they preserved normal three-dimensional s.p.a.ce. The Andalites in the s.h.i.+p 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.

8What?"; I said, for no particular reason.

8I don't think what is the question,"; an Andalite voice said. 8I think why and how and especially who are the questions."; I turned my stalk eyes and there, standing beside me, were three Andalite warriors.

CHAPTER 12.

8I am Aristh Aximili-Esgarrouth- Isthill,"; I said.

8Prince Elfangor's little brother?"; one of the Andalites blurted.

8allyes. 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.

8I am Samilin-Corrath-Gahar, captain of this s.h.i.+p,"; the oldest of them said.

8My tactical officer Hareli-Frodlin-Sirinial, and our s.h.i.+p's physician, Doctor Coaldwin-Ashul-Tahaylik. Now what in yaolin are you doing drifting around in Zero-s.p.a.ce with five aliens?"; 8Did you save them? Are they safe? The aliens, I mean?"; Doctor Coaldwin answered. 8allyes, 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--"; 8allyes, thank you, Doctor,"; Captain Samilin interrupted. 8The question for the aristh is what was he doing in Zero-s.p.a.ce in the company of these ... these fascinating aliens."; I climbed to my feet. I felt shaky, but I couldn't just lie there. 8Captain, I was in morph. In a very small morph. Then I heard a popping sound and suddenly I was in Z-s.p.a.ce."; 8What? You are the extruded ma.s.s from a low-ma.s.s morph? It's impossible!"; the doctor cried, his eyes bright with excitement.

8I mean, it's not impossible, perhaps, but it's never happened. This will annihilate every existing theory of morph ma.s.s displacement. This will be a scientific breakthrough of--"; 8allyes, no doubt,"; the captain interrupted again, sounding more testy. 8But as fascinating as it is scientifically, I have a bigger question. We know how you came to be floating in Zero-s.p.a.ce, 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 s.h.i.+p's captain is lord and master of his s.h.i.+p. An aristh is basically something a s.h.i.+p's captain might sc.r.a.pe 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.

8Answer the captain's question!"; the tactical officer roared, speaking up for the first time. As the number two officer, tactical officers are the s.h.i.+p disciplinarians.

8Sorry, sir,"; I said. 8It'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, 8Just give me your report, Aristh."; But he said it nicely.

8allyes, 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 s.h.i.+p where I served and a Yeerk Pool s.h.i.+p. The Pool s.h.i.+p was a.s.sisted by a concealed Blade s.h.i.+p belonging to Visser Three."; The T.o. made a sneering, disgusted sound.

8The 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. 8Anyway, 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."

8The same humans who are now in sick bay?"; the doctor asked.

8allyes."; 8They used some human diving craft?"; the T.o. asked.

8ationo. They morphed into aquatic animals and rescued me."; The captain showed no expression except a wary tightening around his main eyes. 8They 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.

8I did, sir. I gave them morphing capability."; The captain just looked at me. 8I see.

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

8Sir?"; The T.o. sighed. 8ally 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.

8Doctor, thank you,"; the captain said, dismissing the doctor. 8Perhaps you'd like to go check on your "humans." And see if you can't a.n.a.lyze this Zero-s.p.a.ce problem young Aximili has discovered."; The doctor left. The captain leaned close. 8.Aristh Aximili, I'd like to know why you're lying to me."; 8I would never lie unless ..."; 8Unless what, you insignificant aristh!"; the T.o. cried. 8ally are addressing a s.h.i.+p's captain!"; I nodded. 8allyes. I know."; The T.o. started to yell again, but the captain cut him short with a raised hand.

8.Aristh, have you at any time made contact with the home world during your time on Earth?"; 8allyes, Captain,"; I said, practically collapsing with relief. Captain Samilin got it. He understood.

8And were you given orders at that time?"; 8allyes, 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, 8What happened to Elfangor?"; 8He was killed. By Visser Three. On the planet surface."; The captain nodded. The T.o. looked shocked.

8Prince Elfangor did this?"; the T.o.

asked in an awed voice. 8Prince Elfangor broke the law of Seerow's Kindness?"; 8That speculation will never leave this room,"; the captain said harshly. 8It 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, 8Elfangor was my friend as well as my prince. I'll believe he broke the rules. I'll never believe he did wrong.";

CHAPTER 13.

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

8What question?"; I asked him.

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

8We are in the sick bay of the Andalite a.s.sault s.h.i.+p 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.

8We have just come out of Zero-s.p.a.ce and are now moving at top s.p.a.ce-normal speed toward planet Leera."; "Leera? Where the psychic frogs are from?"

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

8allyes."; 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!"