Chapter 4

Ronnie held me tightly. He held me like a child would clutch at his mother after the darkest nightmare. It was strange, because I had told him nothing. It was just him. It was just natural.

I felt his chest rising and falling against my own. I felt his arms, one hooked around my shoulder and the other beneath my arm, both wrapping so that his hands rested lovingly down my back. His warming breath formed a scarf around my neck, soothing like a winter blanket.

My own hands could feel his thick clothing, and the body beneath. He felt sturdy and strong. He always had been, but it was deceiving when I thought of his reason for the embrace. It was his fear. The fear of losing me to forces way, way out of his control. It frightened him to the point of cracking.

The embrace was a contract. It was an agreement between the two of us, signed and stamped, that we would do whatever we could to remain. It was agreement to be truthful.

There were some truths that would remain hidden. Other things, I would have to be honest about, but only when the time was right.

When was I going to tell him that, in ten days, I could be going to jail? When was I going to tell him about being blackmailed by the Andalite military?

This man… this loyal, devoted man deserved more. I mean, he knew what he was getting into when he swooped me up in his arms. He knew of my history. He'd read books and seen documentaries of the war. He knew most of what I'd been through, and yet he loved me for me. He'd accepted my excuses and my absences without question up until now, but we had reached a threshold where things needed to change. I owed him so much. It was a mounting debt.

His clutch loosened. His arms slid away, but he moved his hands to my waist, still holding on. He looked into my eyes and smiled. "Don't be sorry."

I must have apologised without knowing it.

We dragged the TV out for the first time in a long while. I dusted it while Ronnie sought a mutual favourite movie to watch. We poured out glasses of wine, pressed play, and rested in each other's presence to enjoy a peaceful moment together. It was comfortable, and for the briefest time I forgot about everything else in the world. All I knew was him and the glass clutched in my fingers…

And then it all fell away with three firm knocks on the front door.

Ronnie and I looked at each other, and then at the clock above the mantelpiece, just visible by the flickers of the roaring fire we had started to starve the cold.

"Who's here at nine-thirty?" Ronnie asked warily.

"Clarissa, maybe?" I said, sluggishly getting up and placing my wine glass on the low table beside the sofa. It could have been her, but even she tended to allow us privacy at this time of the evening. She'd only be here if it was an emergency, and I was seriously not in the mood.

I skipped out of the living area and past the supporting pillar closest to the front door. Another three bangs hit the surface and escalated my anxiety. Please, oh please be something good…

I unlatched the door and pulled it open to the cold air. The exterior lamp showed me the unmistakeable shape of an Andalite, and I froze. But it was not either of the officers from earlier.

((We must talk.)) Caysath said.

"Hello to you, too…" I grumbled. "Why are you here?"

((I'm here to discuss. Would you be so kind as to let us in? It's very cold out here))

I shook my head, stunned at his insistence. "You shouldn't be here," I whispered. I knew Ronnie would begin paying attention before long. "If this isn't an emergency, then you should go."

((It is an emergency.))

I hesitated, glanced back over towards Ronnie who had indeed arched himself back to take a look from afar.

I had to be truthful. I wouldn't hide it. "Okay. Okay, come in." I said begrudgingly, fully opening the front door and stepping aside. Caysath eagerly trotted in, stepping over the doormat and landing hooves loudly on the laminate flooring. I moved to close the door, but then another figure stepped inside.

I recognised her… She was an Andalite I'd met just once before. On the Dome Ship, with Caysath. Our conversation was brief.

((Hello again.)) She greeted as I finally managed to close the door.

"Hi…" I twiddled my fingers nervously, and I saw Ronnie approaching. He looked totally baffled. I also saw the slightest hint of betrayal when he glanced over at me.

"Hi," He spoke to the two Andalites. "I don't believe we've met. Ronnie Chambers, I live here with Cassie."

He offered a hand to Caysath, whose stalk eyes examined it. He weakly shook Ronnie's hand, and Ronnie then proceeded to exchange the shake with the female whose name I was trying to recall.

((This is Cadet Amara-Itiireae-Aelrue,)) Caysath eventually said. ((One of my students.))

((A pleasure to see you.)) Amara added formally.

((You've met Cassie.)) Caysath said to her.

She nodded lightly. ((Yes. We've already been introduced.))

I stared at her, and then to Caysath, growing angry at his presence. He used to be a warrior, but in his older years had been designated the equivalent of an office job. What was once a well-toned body was losing its sharpness. He had a ragged, worn appearance. Tired and bitter. In contrast, Amara was youthful and athletic, a glint of determination in her eyes.

Caysath turned one stalk eye to Ronnie. He then spoke privately to me. ((This does not concern him.))

I couldn't reply without speaking openly. Instead, I tried to get my point across with a stern expression. Ronnie wouldn't be moving. "What is it, Caysath?" I asked.

His main eyes narrowed at me. ((It regards our mission. Is this Ronnie privy to such information?)) He asked, privately again. I nodded, just enough to grant him an answer. With that, he continued to speak to all. ((I would not normally come here, with the situation as it is, but I've been trying and failing to contact the others for days now. Days!))

I leaned up against the wooden support post and crossed my arms over my chest. "Maybe they don't want to speak to you."

He snorted, annoyed. ((When I try to communicate, I expect a response. This is no game.))

"I don't know where they are, either," I said, a half-truth. "Why do you need them?"

((Because I don't want to suffer through another damn war!)) He blurted. ((If it weren't for this, I could be retired in a year. But no, another war breaks out! Why do I need them? Because I want them to put an end to this madness!))

"Nobody wants this war. Most people…" I said sadly. "But how do you think they'll be able to stop it?"

((By taking down that Kelbrid contraption! The One! By rescuing Prince Aximili from their dirty hands.))

I shook my head. "But… that won't work, Caysath! We can't negotiate a trade. The War's already started, and we don't know how to destroy The One."

He shuffled uneasily on his hooves. I saw him glance at Ronnie again. Something was up.

((It will help.)) He insisted.

"The Andalites can take out The One themselves," I added. "They have far more to help them do it than we do. And take Ax back. With the border breached, what's to stop them from going to Kyritlyp? They have the coordinates… from us." I said the last words with a not-so-subtle bitterness.

He was running out of options. He looked to Ronnie again and stuttured.

"Why are you really here?" I pressed.

He hesitated. I assumed he then spoke privately, but did nothing to hide it. ((They are coming for you. They will try to take answers from you. The War Commander will stop at nothing to detain the Animorphs. They've embarrassed him, damaged his reputation. He will not rest until those who betrayed him are locked away!))

"I know," I said, caring not for privacy. "Two officers approached me today."

Ronnie shot me a look. Caysath was on the verge of full-on panic. He rushed to the nearby window and flung the curtains shut. ((Oh no, oh no… We can't be seen here. I can't be seen around you. What did they ask you?!))

"They want the other Animorphs. Everybody who was aboard The Shadow." I explained. "They have given me ten days."

((Ten days?!))

"Ten days? For what?" Ronnie asked, disbelief coating him.

I had no choice but to tell him. I was going to when the time was right… Was there ever a right time? "Two Andalite officers came to me at work. They said… They said that I needed to pass on their location within ten days, or they will prosecute me."

Ronnie was understandably shocked. "But… B-but that's blackmail! They can't do that!"

I stared down at my feet. "I'm complicit in criminal activity. I don't know if it can really be called blackmail. I don't know…"

Now Ronnie was angry. "They're threatening you to get information they want. That's blackmail! Why didn't you tell me this?!"

"I was going to," I insisted. "I just didn't want to ruin tonight for us!"

He turned away. Tonight was definitely ruined.

"I'm sorry," I spoke sadly. "I promise, I was going to tell you. Just not tonight. Tonight was meant to be about us being together."

He didn't reply. I could only see his want to forgive. He found it hard.

Caysath butted in. ((Ten days… That is enough time to sort out this mess. Just promise me, Cassie, that under no circumstance will you reveal my connection. No circumstance.))

"You know I wouldn't," I assured him. "You say there's time to sort out the mess… Did you have an idea?"

((Of course,)) He huffed. ((I get paid for my ideas. It's my job.))

I was eager to listen. "What's the plan?"

((It's…)) He sighed, much to my surprise. ((It's not something that I feel comfortable with. I'm very aware that our military has not been entirely honest about how the War started.))

"You mean how they planned to make it happen all along?"

He glared at me. ((They?! Don't generalise. I was not aware of such a conspiracy at the time.))

"Apologies," I said. "Carry on."

((We have one possible action to take,)) He continued. ((I suspect that, if this war was anticipated before the Kelbrids were taken hostage, plans would have been made. Formations. Phases of action. Our commanders are too cautious not to make such a move without thousands of plans and back-up plans. In light of the circumstances, the files would have been top secret, known only by those in the highest positions.))

I rubbed my chin, considering the circumstances. "Where are plans like that kept?"

((The high-security systems. The personal computers of those considered important enough to have such information. Of course, plans of that nature may have already been destroyed.))

"Is there anything else that could save us?" I asked.

He raised his hands in defeat. ((I see no other option than to play them at their own game.))

"No," Ronnie said, stepping into the conversation. "Cassie, you can't go stealing high-security stuff!"

"If I don't, either I get imprisoned, or everybody else does," I sighed. "Maybe I don't have a choice."

((You don't,)) Caysath said. ((If any of you are imprisoned, then they will have nothing to stop them from performing brain scan interrogations on you. It will reveal my involvement!))

"We'll all go down." I concluded. "Ronnie, I've got no choice."

He grabbed at his own hair, silently cursing under his breath before turning away to gaze blankly at the dying fire below the mantelpiece.

((I cannot stay long,)) Caysath said. ((If they have imposed this deadline, then they will likely be keeping watch on you. Until this is resolved, I will cut off contact. When it is all done, you will tell that fool Menderash to call me. How and why they have been avoiding me for so long… Are you sure you don't know where they are?!))

"I'm sure," I reiterated. "And anyway, it's probably good that they aren't here. They won't be found."

((You will tell them to stay away from areas that may be investigated. Yellowstone included.))

"Got it," I nodded, unfurling my arms from my chest. "Where should we go?"

((We… )) He hummed. ((I won't be helping. I will not risk being caught. Not again.))

"Of course…"

((You will not be alone,)) He added. ((My student here will be at your disposal. I know that you don't currently have a ship, but Cadet Amara is well-trained with the Spirit Class stealth vessel. She can assist you.))

Amara smiled with beautiful green eyes. ((I'm more than well-trained.))

Caysath continued, ((Cadet Amara has a military pass that allows her into the War Commander's Dome Ship. It's currently not far from Earth, behind the Andalite blockade that is trying to hold back the Kelbrid approach. With luck, you can access the computer systems and retrieve any pertinent information.))

"Why can't you do it?" I asked.

((I'm not going anywhere near that ship when this is going on!)) He growled. ((Haven't I done enough to raise suspicion?))

"And yet you're happy to let your student go along."

((She is not tied to me,)) He explained. ((She is a student to many. She is here only because I dropped my guard one day. In return for her cooperation, I have been repaying her handsomely. Besides, her loyalty is questionable at the best of times.))

She glowered at him, but refused to defend herself. Or attack him back.

((She will take you, and she can instruct you on how to hack into the computer systems. However, it is not a task she can do alone. Having a sentry will be necessary to make sure nobody is caught. If somebody is caught, then we all go to jail. I want to retire back to the home world and live out the rest of my life with my partner and a huge, purple field. I don't want to spend it in a dirty, rotten cell. I'm sure you're much the same.))

I'd heard what needed to be heard about the plan. It was as good as any. A simple infiltration and hacking of a computer system. That's all it was. I looked again to Amara, whose main eyes were upon me expectantly.

"When do we start?" I asked her.

She played casually with her fingers. She looked bored. ((Whenever you're ready. My ship is outside.))

"We won't do it today," I told her. "Come back in a couple days. Same time. I'll be ready by then."