Chapter 2

((The Earth date is 30th August, 2006, and we have finally reached our destination. Our vessel has just landed at the New York Andalite space port, and the crew are busy packing up to leave. I have not yet ventured outside, but I have been told that the weather is pleasant. However, there is still a deep fear that all Andalite reports have been incorrect, and that the Earth atmosphere is toxic to our species, or that the gravity will leave me plastered to the ground or floating aimlessly through the air. No turning back now, though. May the stars grant me the luck I need to reach the Human hotel in one piece. End journal entry. Mark Earth date 30th August. Entry number 2.))

The hologramatic monitor bleeped and faded, leaving the grey room once again empty. I picked up the small computer device and stored it carefully in the open box on the floor. I took the container lid and secured it tightly on the rim. Everything was now packed, and I was ready to make my first steps onto the foreign planet.

Ayattil approached my side, hooves clomping heavily on the room's horribly cold metal floor. ((Are you packed, sir?))

I turned one stalk eye to him, my other eyes scanning the room for the last time. ((Yes. This is the last box.)) I kicked at it lightly with a hoof, and then took in a deep, steadying breath. ((Let's go, Ayattil.))

My assistant rolled in a small cargo transporter and I helped him lift the box onto its sturdy frame. ((Be careful with this box, Ayattil.)) I warned him, recalling previous incidents he had been involved in. ((This box contains all my files and computers. They are irreplaceable.))

I looked down at his blank face with my main eyes, and at the way he took the transporter loosely in his clumsy hands.

((You can trust me with your box full of valuable and irreplaceable things, sir!)) He chimed with his usual ill-deserved conviction.

I changed my mind, and pushed him away from the handles. ((I shall take this, Ayattil. You go on ahead and test the Earth atmosphere for me. If you start writhing in agony, I will know to return to my quarters.))

He saluted obediently. ((Yes, sir! Right away, sir!))

So I followed my loyal assistant down the narrow corridors towards the entry port, careful not to bump the heavy box against any outstanding objects or any passing crew members. Ayattil cleared the path to the exit, and soon I was feeling cool breezes brush over my short blue hair. Neither I nor Ayattil began to buckle and squirm around on the floor, which was a soothing relief to just one of my fears for this trip.

We came to the boarding ramp, and below us stood the great metal plates that belonged to the terrestrial landing zone. Beams that burst from the small Earth sun reflected mercilessly up from the platform and caused me to reel and cover my eyes with my hand. I stopped moving forward, and rested the transporter against the edge of the slowly descending ramp.

((It's very bright, sir!)) Ayattil announced, similarly struggling under the reflection.

((Yes, I do think I can see that, Ayattil.)) I snorted back to him. ((Go out in front and help me lower the transporter.))

Ayattil nodded and waddled down onto the metal ramp in front of me, standing before the small transporter and readying himself to make sure it didn't fall.

Suddenly, there was a delicate tap on my shoulder. All four of my eyes turned to the source of the disturbance, and they fell upon the beautiful face of Ardina. She stood by my side with her enduring smile.

((Hello again, Nicalor.)) She cooed.

There was a loud squeak from the ramp, followed by panicked hoofsteps and an abrupt smash. Returning my attention to the transporter, it became clear that my hands had let go of the handles in the shock of Ardina's appearance. It rolled down the ramp, swerved and tumbled over the edge onto the hard platform below. Ayattil was stood halfway down, scratching his head.

((Ayattil!)) I boomed accusingly. ((I told you to hold onto the transporter, you buffoon!))

((But, sir!)) He whined. ((You let go of-))

((Shut up and make sure nothing is broken.)) I hissed down at him, stomping forward loudly on the ramp and gazing down at the scattered remains on the ground below. Ayattil rushed off in a skittish panic to recover the equipment, leaving me to seethe in anger at myself for being so easily distracted.

My emotions took a dizzying swing as Ardina swooped over to me, giggling lightly. Her light hoofsteps sounded like the sweet chimes of some soft musical instrument on the cold steel ramp.

((I'm sorry, Nicalor.)) She said to me, nudging up to my side. ((Did I scare you?))

I stuttered nervously to her, now embarrassed by the incident. ((Of course not! Scare me? No. I was, uh… simply testing the Earth gravity. I believe it is safe for us.))

The female rolled her stalk eyes, and then let them search the scenery around us. We were still halfway down the ramp, and our view consisted mostly of the underside of our vessel. ((Shall we continue onwards?)) She offered.

My body regained its composure, tail arching up high behind me. ((After you.)) I returned in my most gentlemanly tone.

Ardina nodded, and with a swift flick of her shoulders, she marched on ahead with poise. I followed closely behind, but instead of directing my eyesight to the scenery slowly emerging around us, I found all four of my eyes drawn to the anatomy that swaggered just in front of me.

((Wow,)) I barely noticed Ardina saying. ((It's actually rather pleasant. Wonderful, even.))

((Oh yes,)) I replied quietly. ((Quite delectable…))

My ears picked up a huffing noise, and one of my stalk eyes caught onto Ardina's, who had noticed the direction of my focus. Embarrassed, I coughed up a desperate diversion.

((This platform. It's delightful! Very nice metal plates...))

Ardina chuckled cutely once again, and with her slender tail pressed against my face so that it was no longer descended in the direction of her supple frame. She guided my vision to the world around us, and I was pleasantly surprised to see a place that was… adequate.

Adequate. Perhaps the right word for it. The air was cool and not too humid, but it was also thick and polluted. The view wasn't offensive, but nor was it outstanding. It wasn't as wonderful as Ardina first mentioned, but I felt that she was purposeful trying to draw my focus away from her own backside when she said that.

We stood on the warm metal platform and continued to observe the surroundings. In our local vicinity, small motor vehicles buzzed across our line of vision, attending to the newly landed ship, and other Andalites busy at work rushed around hurriedly to see to whatever duties called for them. Far off in the distance sat what I assumed to be New York City. There were great metal buildings stretching up into the deep blue evening sky, the last of the Earth sun's rays reflecting viciously off of their shiny surfaces. The collection of buildings spread over a large portion of the horizon, and already I felt my hooves shake at the daunting task ahead of me.

The sounds of the ship engines were soon extinguished and replaced by the eerie sounds of Human motor vehicles somewhere in the distance. Hooting horns and the screeching of tires was something I had heard from video footage, but it sounded so different when it was coming from the true source.

Ardina turned around so that we stood face to face, and smiled. ((It seems bearable, don't you agree?))

((Yes, though it is making me a little nervous)) I paused and breathed weightily through my nose. ((Not too nervous, obviously.))

((I see you shaking.)) Ardina informed, one stalk eye swivelling to glance at my wobbly hind legs. ((Don't worry Nicalor, I am here to look after you.)) She offered teasingly.

((Ha!)) I snorted, a little defensively. ((I am in no need of protection. There isn't much on this little planet that scares me.))

I yelped in shock as Ayattil suddenly appeared in my eye line. ((Sir!))

Ardina laughed, and I excused myself by indignantly pushing Ayattil to the side.

((Are you determined to make me look like a fool, Ayattil?!)) I growled in private thought-speech. ((Why must you ruin the atmosphere with your idiocy?))

((But sir!)) He squeaked. ((I thought Ardina was madly in love with you, sir! Surely making you look a fool would be superfluous!))

((Superfluous. Such a long word… I'm surprised, Ayattil.)) I smirked patronisingly down to him. ((Anyway, what do you mean she's madly in love with me?))

A devious smile appeared over his dopey eyes. ((Don't think that I didn't hear you through the walls the other night, sir!))

I blushed and averted my gaze. ((I… You… How dare you suggest that we…))

Ayattil chuckled in an annoyingly graceless manner. ((Oh, but it was great, sir! It was like a series of small explosions going off, sir. My floor was bouncing and everything!))

((Ayattil!)) I practically screamed at the irritating runt.

((It was a pity when it ended after only three minutes, sir!))

I stamped my left fore-hoof on the platform. ((Ayattil! Would you please be quiet and continue to clean up the mess you made?!))

((But sir!)) He began. ((From what I heard through the walls, it was you who was making the-))

((Please… just go pick up the cargo and return it to me in one piece.)) I hissed, hands shaking into fists. ((Or it will be you who is broken!))

What a relief that my threat worked. Ayattil finally stopped his pestering and ran off to finish his job. I glanced over to Ardina, who was stood behind us, still snickering softly to herself.

((I'm sorry, he's just so eager to get to the hotel.)) I told her, far too embarrassed and prideful to reveal our actual conversation to her.

((I must admit that I am also looking forward to getting to the Human building.)) She said, glancing around the base for our transport.

We stood in waiting for a while and muttered polite conversation to each other and occasionally to other members of the crew, who joined us with their packed luggage at the side of the platform. Much to my frustration, my left stalk eye picked up Ayattil who once more approached me with a pleased look on his face. ((Sir!))

((You again?)) I grumbled, already fed up with his presence on this new planet. ((Have you cleaned away the equipment that you dropped?))

((Yes, sir!)) He replied in his typically exaggerated drone.

((And is anything damaged?))

((All of it, sir!))

My hands clenched into fists again, and I glared angrily at the oblivious assistant. ((Everything?!))

((Well, there is one thing that we didn't break, sir!)) He chirped.

I closed my eyes in unenthusiastic anticipation. ((And what, may I ask, is that?))

((The box, sir.)) He lifted the large container so that I could observe it.

I shook my head and turned away from him, no longer feeling the need to talk to such an incompetent.

Ardina and I spent the next few minutes admiring the scenery of our new home and waiting for our ride into the city. The hotel that would be hosting us for the next two years was kind enough to provide us with a bus that would move us to and from the city whenever we needed, and a while after we had finished unloading the ship, it arrived. It was quite a large vehicle, and its innards had been manipulated to be better suited to Andalite passengers. The Human seats had all been removed, leaving the inside to look like a large, open, windowed room. Bars lined the edges to be used to steady ourselves on rougher journeys, and the floor was covered in a light layer of faux grass. It was reasonably comfortable, but as soon as the ten members of our crew were loaded up and the vehicle's engine started, I wanted to get straight back off.

The bus took us over a large stretching runway made of black gravel material, decorated with mysterious white markings. It was what the Humans called a highway, as one of my colleagues alleged. It quickly brought us into the great Human jungle of New York City, and I quickly came to realise the scope of the place - It was bigger than I could imagine in more ways than one. The buildings were huge complexes of steel and glass that stretched up with an uncountable number of floors, their summits invisible past the bus window frames. The roads were vast and filled by walls of multi-coloured, noisy motor vehicles that came to sudden starts and stops all around us. For the most part, our bus remained stationary for unnecessary amounts of time as the cars formed impassable barriers before us, indulging in hideous battles of horns and shouting.

There were a lot of humans, and that is perhaps the biggest understatement that I could give. They buzzed around the concrete jungle like a swarm of insects, crowding the designating walking areas and bounding between the stationary vehicles around us. They wore an enormous variety of artificial skins over their pathetic bodies, creating one long piece of abstract art in an infinite banner, stretching as far as the eye could see.

I could barely keep up with what I was observing, and after a while it became one big indecipherable blur of movement. My colleagues appeared just as dizzied by the intake. No one aboard but our driver had ever witnessed real Humans before, and now we were surrounded by more than could possibly be counted. It was terribly unnerving.

Ardina remained closely by my side, and as we reached the busier areas of the city, I felt her hand take mine. She seemed just as nervous as I was, and that in itself was a small consolation for me. Apart from Ayattil, she was the only other life form on this planet that I really knew, and I was certainly not going to spend much of my time mingling with Ayattil.

Once we had passed through the clogged arteries of the city, our bus finally came to a halt in front of our hotel, the driver announcing our arrival. The building and the surrounding area appeared to be one of the nicer areas of town, which calmed yet another fear of mine. Ayattil took my equipment from the bus and to the entrance hall, while I helped with Ardina's things, much to her satisfaction.

I stepped out from the bus with a large sack over my shoulder into the cool New York air. Now there was nothing separating me from the Humans, and as soon as my hooves touched down on hard concrete, a small Human male charged by in front of me, briefcase in hand. He shouted an apology over his shoulder, but I was too in awe of my situation to reply.

They bustled all around us, some of them taking pleasure in our appearance by taking photographs or trying to talk to us, but none of my crew was in the right mood for such confrontation. We were all lost in a deep exhaustion, brought on from the long journey and the frightening intake of our new surroundings. I put up with one Human beside a big stone pillar who wanted a photograph with a "real space alien", and hustled my way to the extravagant hotel entrance.

If the outside was a little on the fancy side, the inside of this particular building was stunning. The walkways were lined with lush red velvet that ran up to the reception desks and the primitive Human transporters on the far side. The walls seemed expensively decorated in mixes of deep purple, gold and red, and dotted with golden lamps and exaggerated Earth flora that stretched right up to the ceiling. Quaint little water features were cunningly placed around the main desk, disappearing and reappearing behind the occasional Human wandering past. The place was garish and perhaps a little self-indulgent, but overall I was quite pleased with what I saw. It wasn't as hideous as some Human establishments that I had seen from the ship's sources.

Our escort brought us to the large reception desk at the end of the ground floor, where several Human staff greeted us with polite smiles. This involved the curling of the mouth, something that could express a great and bewildering variety of emotions, but these particular smiles seemed gracious and inviting enough.

One of the staff members, whose nametag indicated the Human as "Claire", was the first to greet our party. "Hello, and welcome to The Grand Central Hotel!"

The blond, ponytailed Human female rambled on with what was obviously a scripted welcome, and we all did our best to pay attention. My fingers began to twitch, eager to set down the equipment and get some rest on whatever bed I would be granted in my room. To my surprise, however, after the Human Claire had finished her epic welcome, a flock of Human servants engulfed our group and started offering to take our luggage to our rooms for us. Pleasantly taken aback by the offer, I ordered Ayattil to aid the Human servants in moving our equipment, and handed him Ardina's sack to be taken to her room.

I was handed a small slab of plastic by one of the desk staff, who informed me that it was the key to my room.

((Thank you… Sophia.)) I said, having to squint to see the staff member's nametag.

"Your room is on the eighth floor, sir." She gleamed. "We trust you'll enjoy your stay at The Grand Central Hotel, and hope that you can attend our meet-and-greetsession tomorrow evening at eight."

((Will you be there, Miss?)) Ayattil spoke to the Human, popping into view with a misguided smile on his face. ((You're very pretty.))

I grimaced at his awkward and disturbing sentiment and gave him a swift slap to the back of the head. I turned my main eyes to the Human. ((Please don't mind this one. He is not quite correct in the head, if you understand me.))

Sophia nodded, still expressing that scripted welcoming grin. I pulled Ayattil away and gave him a private word.

((Ayattil, if you wish to embarrass yourself in front of the Humans, please make sure to do it when I'm not present to be associated with you.))

((Okay, sir.)) He responded emotionlessly.

((And what were you doing, anyway?)) I asked of him, still grimacing. ((Were you courting that Human female?))

He paused, then, ((I might have been, sir.))

((Well don't,)) I huffed. ((It's revolting.))

((But sir! I've never been with a female before!)) He argued like a lustful halfwit.

((Yes, and for good reason, Ayattil.)) I reasoned, patting him on the shoulder. ((But even you, young imbecile, are too proud an Andalite to court a Human. Humans are hideous. Any sane Andalite would sooner court a Taxxon!))

Our escort and the Human servants carrying our luggage soon led us over to the other side of the main hall, where three primitive Human transporters sat within the lusciously coloured wall. Ardina, Ayattil and I followed our two Human servants as they pressed an arrowed button by the transporters side. The machine was horribly slow to work, and minutes after pressing the activation button, the doors finally agreed to part, allowing us to squeeze into the cramped space inside.

((So these are Human transporters?)) I mused privately to Ardina, gazing into a mirror that occupied the far end of the compartment.

((Terribly inefficient…)) She sneered, voicing my own opinion. ((So primitive and-))

The small metal box we were standing in jerked violently, throwing us slightly off balance. It rumbled into life, and I could feel it ascending.

I groaned at the sickening motions. ((Perhaps we could lend the Humans transporters that aren't so jerky… This is just abysmal! I'm surprised they can stay upright on their two legs.))

I held onto the bars of the transporter as it rumbled further up the building like a ship going through take-off. Our short journey ended with another sudden bump, and the large doors opened up into a great corridor, granting me welcomed relief from the beginnings of claustrophobia. We spilled out into the corridor behind our new escorts and observed the bright surroundings. The walls were an appealing white, and they stood over a layer of smooth, red artificial grass that expanded outwards to our left, right, and straight ahead of us.

The Human servants moved along again, the three of us tagging along behind, intently focused on the confusing layout and décor of our new home. One escort soon slowed, and dropped the bags he was carrying to the floor. ((Miss Ardina- Eskallon-Taryal, this is your room.))

Ardina inspected the door and the number on its front: 822.

((I suppose I shall see you soon.)) Ardina shrugged to me. ((You can come by later tonight if you wish. Room eight-two-two.))

I nodded and smiled to her. ((See you later tonight, then. I hope your room is as delightful as you are.)) I could have slapped myself at that moment.

She blushed and rolled her stalk eyes. ((Oh you…))

Ayattil and I continued down the unending hallways after our escort, who eventually stopped us beside our own rooms. I was in 834, Ayattil was in 835. The escort showed Ayattil how to use the key he had been given, and once he had entered his own room, the Human moved onto me.

((I assume I do exactly as my assistant did…)) I mused, inspecting both sides of the little coloured card in my fingers.

"Yes, sir," The Human male concurred. "But you must always slot the key into the lock with the purple end facing the door. Otherwise, it won't let you in."

((Ah. I see.)) I agreed, slotting the card key into the slot above the door handle. ((What a quaint lock system your Human hotels have.))

The escort said nothing, his hands clasped formally behind his back. I turned a stalk eye and politely dismissed him after handing him a small tip.

A green signal flashed beneath the key slot, and I could just about hear the locks shift and turn. I pressed down on the door handle, and entered my new home.