(Jen-Jennor, where are you going?) I asked, Jennor had turned from the blood-streaked window and was galloping away as fast as her legs would allow.
(They need my help.) She stated simply, stepping out of the Dome. Her tone had radiated a kind of defiance that I had rarely heard in Jennor.
(Jennor!) I cried, astounded. Normally I would be the one to make rash decisions, while Jennor scolded me for not thinking things through. (Jennor, stop! What are you going to do? What can you do? You're an aristh!)
(I don't care!) Jennor continued running through the ship, leaving me no choice but to follow, racing through half familiar hallways, made ghostly with desertedness.
By the time we reached the docking bay my legs were screaming with pain. Even with the extensive endurance training from our instructors, the ship was large enough to wind any grown Andalite. The docking bay itself was massive, and mostly empty, save a few old model fighters that probably didn't run anymore. One fighter in particular caught my eye. It was still shiny and new, almost as if it had never been used. It had been having maintenance work done on it, apparently, but looked to be intact now. Jennor ran to its hatch, which was already open, as if expecting us. I followed, begrudgingly.
(Jennor, come on, get off the ship. You don't know how to fly one of these things…all you've done are simulations.)
(And I've done superb at all of them. I can do this, just shut up and go over by the weapons.) Jennor turned her attention away from me as she powered up the engines and made a mind-link connection with the computers. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I knew that Jennor's stubbornness could exceed mine by light years. There was no way I would change her mind. Just like the simulations. I told myself silently, as I walked over to the weapons station.
(Computer, initiate lift-off sequence) Jennor said in her most determined voice. The floor of the ship rumbled and began to vibrate. Its engines were not nearly as smooth as those of the massive Dome Ship, and I felt as if I were fighting for my footing. Jennor commanded the ship forward and we shot out of the docking bays main hatch, into the midst of battle. As soon as the ship was in space, the engine smoothed out, and I began looking over the weapons station, trying to remember what controls did what.
(This is insane, Jennor. This is completely insane. We'll be thrown out of the military for this, if we survive.) I commented, my fear making me angry. Jennor did not respond; she was paying attention to the ship. Looking out the main window the battle could be seen, much closer than I was comfortable with. Jennor steered the ship around the outskirts of the battle, and I could tell that she was fighting with her own fear. She would start to move forward towards the fighting hesitantly, then change her mind and fall back beyond the battle.
Her indecision is what saved us both, in the end. As Jennor was pulling away from the battle, the Blade Ship fired dozens of rapid shots at one of the Dome Ships. The result was a massive explosion, sending fragments of metal hurtling through space. The blast incinerated all of the fighters in the premises, and the shockwave sent our fighter hurtling wildly end over end. I lost my balance in the unexpected blast, and flew back into the wall with a thud. The lights flickered out as a second thump accompanied my own and Jennor landed somewhere nearby. At that same moment I felt myself lifting from the ground, hovering in the cramped fighter.
(Jennor!) I cried, trying to shake the adrenaline from my system. It was pitch black in the fighter, and only pinpoints of distant stars marked where the main window was.
(The power was knocked out. Damnit! Computer, initiate emergency backup sequence!) Jennor sounded as scared as I felt. A moment later, however, I found my feet back on solid ground as the power came back online. The lights flickered once before staying on. I blinked at the sudden flood of light, allowing a moment for my eyes to clear. When I opened all four eyes again, I took note of the cabin. Jennor was at the controls, bringing the ship around. She had a welt growing above her left ear where she had bumped her head, but was otherwise intact. I walked up to stand beside her and stare out the window.
(Where's the ship?) I asked, looking out into empty space. Jennor shook her head, looking troubled. The space in front of us was unoccupied. No Dome Ship's or Blade Ship. Not even a Bug Fighter to show some sign of life.
(I think the Blade Ship escaped into Z-space . . . ) Jennor said, her voice toneless. (After they blew up the Dome Ship and everyone else.)
(What?) I gave Jennor a sideways look. (You mean everyone's dead? No! But . . . but what about . . . I thought . . . we're more powerful than the Yeerks, how could they have beaten us?)
(I don't know. But we need to go.)
(Go where?) I cried, noticing and not caring about the desperation in my voice. Jennor shrugged her narrow shoulders and seemed to be about to respond, but was interrupted by a beep from the control console. A small red light blinked on.
(Whats that?) I asked, looking at the symbol, which I didn't recognize. I glanced back up at Jennor, and was surprised to see the colour drained from her face. (What? What's wrong, Jennor?)
(We . . . we're out of fuel. They must not have filled it up, that's why it wasn't sent into battle. . .) Jennor stammered, looking at me in disbelief. (We have enough to last a day, and then the ship dies.)
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It was amazing how slow the day that I thought would be my last progressed. Jennor and I set up a distress signal, despite the numerous risks, hoping that a friendly ship would pass by. But as the minutes melted away into hours hope began to dwindle. Boredom taking the place of hope, we resigned ourselves to looking around the small fighter.
(You'd think that they would have a water supply. I mean, they put grass in the ground, sure, but no water. Whats the point of eating if we can't drink?) Jennor complained irritably. She was currently rooting through some compartments that we hadn't noticed earlier, trying to find something to hold her interest. I was about to make a snide comment about having to eat grass, when she let out a cry of excitement.
(Look, its an Escafil Device!) She cried.
(So?) I asked, feeling suddenly disgruntled. (Its not like it'll do us any good . . . you can morph already. And that's impossible for me.)
(No, come here, look at it closer.) Jennor ordered. I gave an annoyed sigh and walked over to where she held the cube. It looked almost exactly like the one I remembered. The one I had stolen from the Blade Ship that had changed everything. It was a small perfect cube, with a faint glow emitting from it. The only difference was that the Escafil Device I remembered had been a deep blue in hue. This one was purple, and had an almost unnoticeable swirl pattern on its surface.
(This is different than the last one…) I commented, running my hand over the top of the box. Its surface was smooth, and warm to the touch.
(I know. Look here.) She pulled out what looked like a small handheld computer pad from the same compartment. The screen itself was no larger than a photograph, and on it was a combination of symbols that I recognized as Andalite writing.
(What does it say?) I asked. The Andalite language was still mostly illegible to me, save a few symbols used commonly in the military.
('The Aldrea's Cube'.) Jennor read, (Properties: Sin-4, components 1-2, 7a. Use: Arm nothlits with morphing technology. Success rate: 69.34 successful. Amt. In use: 1. Problems: Nothlit retains current physical form as main body, cannot return to original state pre-nothlitism. 30.66 of trials did not regain any morphing power. All limitations and requirements of the Escafil Device apply. If more than the given time is used up while in morph the nothlit will be trapped in this new form. In this situation, the Aldrea's Cube will not work again. Side Effects: Unknown. Warning: This product has not yet been released publicly, and the inventors are not responsible for unsaid consequences.)
A moment of silence passed, in which Jennor stared at me with all four eyes. I stared back blankly. I had understood almost every word Jennor had read and yet . . . the sheer impossibility of it was staggering. I had resigned myself to Andalite form, yes. But beyond that I had resigned myself to being a lesser warrior because of my incapability to morph. With the ability to morph, I would be just as capable as any other warrior. As I sorted out the possibilities in my head, another thought came to mind. If I could use the morphing power to obtain human DNA . . . then I could morph back into a human and go back to Earth.
I toyed with the idea for a moment, balancing my options. On the one hand, I could return to Earth, and my siblings, who I missed with a growing ache in my heart. Perhaps even warn them about the Yeerk threat and keep them safe. At times it seemed I would do anything to look upon my sisters and brothers face, if only for a moment. Yet on the other hand . . . I looked at Jennor, whose own face seemed aglow with excitement. Surely in her mind she saw me by her side, armed with a multitude of morphs as we battled together against the Yeerk armies.
(You forget something.) I said, suddenly remembering the situation we were in. (Whether or not I have the morphing power, we're on a dying ship in the middle of space. What are the odds of us being saved before we starve to death?)
Beep. Beep. Beepbeepbeepbeepbeep. The high pitched noise broke into my argument, as if it were responding. I turned a stalk eye to the scanner, which was beeping frantically.
(A ship! It's a ship! Terenia, we're saved!) Jennor cried, hurrying to the controls.
(Whoopie.) I said in resignation, dragging myself over to her side. (We still don't know if it's even friendly or not. Don't get excited until we know for a fact that we're going to survive.)
(I know, I know. Here, we still have a chance. Now use the Aldrea's Cube. There's no reason not to.) Jennor held out the cube, but I hesitated.
(I don't know, I think the 'not responsible for complications' part might be. What complications? I don't want to end up with five legs or something. Four is already two more than I'm used to.) My words fell flat, though. Both of us knew that I would give in. Giving Jennor a look of intense dislike for knowing my character better than I did, I put a hand on the cube. For a few moments the two of us stood there, looking foolish, until I felt a shivery tingle run up and down my spine. As soon as it passed I took my hand away. (There, happy?)
Jennor was happy, it seemed, and she put the cube down and turned back to the controls, a smile playing on her face.
(Well, we should make sure it worked.) I said, smiling myself. I grabbed her by the shoulder and concentrated. Jennor didn't have more than a moment to look shocked before she took on a dreamy look, her eyes closing halfway. I released her and stepped back, waiting for it to wear off. It was another beep from the scanner that snapped her out of it. Giving me a dirty look, she glanced at the controls, before crying out something I had never heard before. Based on the context, however, it was safe to assume that it was some sort of Andalite profanity.
(Whats wrong?) I asked, looking over her shoulder.
(The ship. The ship that's headed straight for us,) Jennor responded, looking at me in sheer terror. (Is a Visser's Blade Ship.)