A return to the present again. Thanks for hanging around for this long - do please let me know what you think of this one. And in particular, how am I doing for Andalite names? I swear, I spend half my time racking my brains for them. Kipsing's is my current personal favourite, although it really sounds as if it should belong to a female... Perhaps I'll make him twitchy about that in future.
Also people have said the present plot doesn't move fast enough. Hope this is enough development to satisfy.
Chapter 7
All I could do was stare, transfixed, at the tip of that shredder. I'd never had a weapon pointed at me before, not even in jest. I couldn't have moved it I'd tried.
But then the shredder was lowered, and through my daze I heard a strangely familiar laugh.
Are you Jahar? If you are, please stop staring and say something. I raised my eyes and a jolt of recognition shook me.
Kalladin? But no, the thought speak was male... The young Andalite standing in front of me laughed again, and it was so close to Kalladin's laugh it was uncanny.
Close, he said. I am Kalladin's son, Kipsing-Raedel-Corssan. My mother sent me to you. I knew I was still staring but my brain had nearly frozen with surprise.
How did you get here? It just happened to be the first of the many questions swirling round my head to force its way out.
I'm an expert morpher, he replied smugly. Sneaking on board was not difficult. He frowned. Although it was a nasty shock when the security ship's scanner picked me up. It should not have been able to. Indignation rose up in me and shook its fist at the world.
Why are you in my quarters? Why are you in my ship? How dare you presume to smuggle yourself aboard! He took a step backwards and raised his hands placatingly.
Forgive me, please. I would have asked your permission to come, but I was afraid you would reject my offer because you didn't know me. He paused, then added, Kalladin sent me to protect you. I snorted.
How kind of her. I haven't seen her for who knows how long, and then she takes it on herself to foist her son on me when the last thing I need is to babysit children. Kipsing refused to retaliate to my icy tone, and instead replied with an infuriating calm which made me want to tail swipe him.
I'm older than those arisths you have, and highly trained. Instead of you sitting me, mother sent me to sit you. Again I fought back the urge to attack him, in sheer fury at his presumption.
And how did your mother... Realisation hit me, and anger. Arbat! Curse him and his inability to keep anything to himself!
He only told mother because you did not, Kipsing said defensively. She told me to tell you our family are still your friends, despite your attempts to push us away. That stopped me in my tracks, and my anger drained away to leave a terrible cold, empty feeling. Was he right? Had I really, in my self pity and belief that I was being shunned, severed friendships that might have remained? I shifted uncomfortably, trying to remember the last time I spoke to Kalladin. I had not wanted to burden her with my shame and misery, and when I had learnt that her husband's fighter had been shot down by Yeerks I'd felt horrifically guilty, as though I could not face her whilst my mate, however unwillingly, aided the creatures who had taken hers away. And now, it seemed, she still cared enough to defy my silence and send her son. I mentally shifted gear, and tried what I hoped was a welcoming smile.
Then you are most welcome, Kipsing. He bowed his head in acknowledgement, then looked down rather guiltily at the shredder in his hands.
I apologise if I alarmed you. I'd only seen holofilms of you before, and I wanted to be sure it was you I spoke to first. He held out the shredder formally and I took it from his hands. Then he lowered his eyes, and immediately his arrogance seemed to dissolve into awkwardness. And there is something else my mother instructed me to tell you.
Yes? I couldn't imagine what revelation could be impending. Had Kalladin's entire family stowed away? Was Kipsing deficient somehow? Disease? Military shame? As if that could shock me!
I swore to my mother that I would keep you alive at any price. He said solemnly. If I have to, I will kill to uphold that promise.
I understood instantly. You would not hesitate to despatch Visser Three. His silence was enough for a reply, and again I felt irritated with this arrogant young male. If you were to do so you might possibly save my life, but you would certainly remove any purpose or meaning from it, I said bitterly. Besides, I continued, slightly spitefully, Alloran was a fighting war prince before your parents even met, and the Visser has been stocking up on horrific morphs for years. What makes you think you could possibly kill Visser Three?
Kipsing still failed to meet my eyes. Then he said softly, Because I am a professional assassin.
Subconsciously I took a step back, and he noticed with a wry smirk. Assassins were shunned in Andalite society almost as much as the mates of disgraced and infested princes. There was a feeling that no amount of cleansing rituals could remove the taint of their profession.
I am a professional assassin, he repeated. And from my recent training I rather suspect my next assignment was going to be Visser Three.
I was about to speak, but suddenly the Starwave gave a great jolt, as if we'd hit something, and we were both knocked off our hooves. What's happening? I screamed. The shuddering didn't stop, and now we were spinning, the whole ship tumbling wildly like a thrown pebble and I couldn't tell up from down. I heard screaming and barely recognised Tirdellan's thought speak, distorted by sheer terror. Lortif! I cried. Report! What's happened? From far away I heard his faint thought speak reply.
Medrar says Z-Space is shifting. We're being transported with it! Flailing wildly, Kipsing slammed into me, and the jolt caused my fingers to tighten on the shredder I still held.
TSEWWW!
The bright blast was shockingly loud, and missed him by bare inches, tearing a hole in the wall of my quarters, exposing the main walkway. Medrar's distant thought speak reached me.
I'm going to take us out of Z-Space. Hold on! A final whirling spin, which flipped my stomachs and sent nausea pounding in my head, and then the Starwave slammed to a sudden halt, almost as if we'd hit something. I scrambled to my hooves as fast as I could, and turned to Kipsing.
You. Stay Put. He looked as if he was about to argue, but I'd already left my quarters, running to the cockpit. Farling joined me halfway, his eyes wide.
What happened mother?
I don't know yet, I replied shortly. When we reached the cockpit I found Lortif slumped down by the main monitors, his lower body sprawled, his head in his hands.
He's mildly concussed, Medrar explained, as his hands danced across the main interface. His eyes gleamed with excitement. This has only been recorded as happening twice before – ships being caught in Z-Space shifts. Farling left my side and crossed to Lortif, taking his hands away and checking his head. I could see a nasty bruise forming.
So it's rare? I asked Medrar. He shrugged.
Ships go missing every now and then. Perhaps it is more the case that it is rare to survive it.
I glanced out of the main viewing window at the starry blackness.
So where are we?
That, Medrar replied, rather crossly, is what I am trying to discover.
There was a clatter of hooves, and I swivelled an eyestalk, expecting to see Tirdellan. Instead it was Kipsing. Farling sprung to his feet, tail lifted challengingly.
Who is this?
A stowaway. I explained, before turning angrily to Kipsing. I told you to stay in my quarters.
I'm sorry, he said quickly, and I suddenly realised he looked flushed. Do the engines work? He asked urgently.
I believe so, Medrar replied coldly. But we are not going anywhere until I can find our position. Kipsing stepped forward.
Actually I recommend you start them up immediately.
I don't... Medrar began, but Kipsing interrupted.
I don't either, he snarled. But I do know that I just looked out the window and saw something larger than us, coming towards us and eying us like we're a nice, ripe patch of Ordin grass!
Medrar stared for a moment, but Kipsing's words kickstarted me into action.
Farling, fire the engines! Medrar, translate us back into Z-Space.
Where? He shouted as Farling raced to the central console.
Anywhere! I roared back, adrenaline pounding through me. I felt amazingly light headed, as if everything was a bit unreal.
The engines whined into life, but over them I heard a sharp scream, and Tirdellan tumbled into the crowded cockpit.
It's going to eat us! She wailed, and then jumped when she saw Kipsing. Who are you? Her thought speak was shrill with rising hysteria.
Perhaps introductions could wait, he replied grimly, whilst Farling communicated with the computer. Can you not do that any faster? Before I could stop him, he knocked Farling aside, ignored my son's indignant shout and slammed the throttle.
FWOOOM!
The Starwave roared into life and we hurtled forward, banked a sharp left to avoid an asteroid which had appeared out of nowhere and then...
Our pursuer filled the entire viewing screen. Or rather, its massive, tooth lined jaws did. (Mouths. Is there anything in this galaxy as strange and horrible as mouths?) We could have flown down its throat if it had taken our fancy. And it was moving forwards to engulf us.
Reverse! Farling shouted, and Kipsing responded, sending us shooting backwards.
AAAARRRGGHHH! Tirdellan screamed. AAAARGGHH! Kipsing and Medrar agreed. I don't know if I was screaming or not – it all happened so fast. Lortif howled in pain as the thought speak battered his bruised brain, and clamped his arms over his head in a desperate attempt to keep our voices out.
We reversed and then spun around, shooting forwards and away. Medrar had returned to his calculations and keyed something into the main computer.
Calibrating translation to Zero Space in 5, 4... the computer intoned. We were going to make it!
Then, suddenly, there was a horrific tearing sound of metal and the whole ship stopped.
It's got us! Tirdellan shrieked, her voice at a tempo which indicated she had temporarily bid farewell to sanity.
Go forwards! I ordered desperately. To Kipsing? To the Starwave?
I'm trying! Kipsing shouted, clearly panic-stricken.
Translation to Zero Space failed, the computer informed us calmly. Reason: insufficient momentum for translation.
Noooo! Medrar howled in frustration.
Then...
AAAARRRGGGHHHH! We were thrown off our hooves, all of us slammed against the walls as the poor Starwave was shaken by whatever held us.
Mother! Tirdellan wailed, and I dimly saw that she had damaged one of her arms through landing awkwardly on it. No time for that. No time for the terror pounding through my veins.
The rear blasters, Jahar! Where had that voice come from? From within me? The rear blasters...
I had known the Starwave like the back of my hand, all those years ago. I only hoped Arbat hadn't altered it too much, or the idea that was crystallising in my mind would fail...
We stopped moving and I took advantage of the momentary calm to claw my way to the main console.
Jahar! Kipsing cried, scrambling to join me, but I elbowed him aside.
Let's see how he likes this! I snarled, and activated the Starwave's hidden rear blasters.
Most ships have a shredder – a giant tail arching over them which acts as the main weapon. The Starwave had that. But she also had two secret blasters, hidden beneath her rear engines. Very useful for if she was being chased by an unsuspecting Bug fighter.
A hum, and then...
TSEWWW!
YES! We were released instantly and shot forwards, our engines still on full power. An agonised roar reverberated around us, making the Starwave shake.
I don't think it liked that, mother, Farling shouted.
Whatever gave you that idea? I snapped. Medrar, get us into Zero Space! Again the aristh communicated with the main computer, and again we heard the countdown.
5,4...
Come on! Medrar shouted, pale with fear.
3,2...
Where are we going? Farling called to him.
Away!
1. Translating to Zero Space.
Yes!
White had never looked so good.
We were safe! Safe!
All that could be heard was the panting of six unbelievably stressed Andalites. Well, five, and Lortif, who had curled into a small ball and was whimpering with pain. I left Kipsing to introduce himself and crossed to Lortif.
He just needs to morph, Farling said, joining me and ignoring the newcomer. With a stalk eye I watched Kipsing perform an exaggerated bow to Tirdellan. Who still looked extremely shaken. And who's arm was at a very funny angle indeed. When she recovered her sense she would have to morph. Gently, with Farling's help, I coaxed Lortif to morph a Kafit bird.
Morphing is the strangest thing to watch, particularly if you haven't for a while. Lortif's facial features melted as if they were made of hot plastic, and kind of ran together into a beak. His body... well, let's just say I was rather more intimately acquainted with Lortif after that morphing than I was before. Rather embarrassedly, the Kafit bird picked itself up and flapped for height. He had clearly recovered full mentality as soon as the morph was complete and flew around the cabin, complaining loudly because he hadn't seen the beast.
It was huge, Farling told him, as the bird fluttered its many wings and landed on his shoulder. Bigger than a dome ship.
Couldn't you have lifted me up to see it? Lortif asked irritably.
Medrar had returned to the computer, and now a look of surprise crossed his face.
Oh no.
What? I asked, instantly alert. What oh no? I didn't have the energy for another emergency. Two in the space of an hour was more than enough. And then the computer spoke again.
Reaching final destination: Earth. Translating back into normal space.
That oh no, Medrar said. Looks like this isn't going to take five weeks after all.
What?
Suddenly, wooosh! We translated back into normal space. It took my eyes a second to adjust to seeing colours again, but then I could pick out...
A small planet which was mainly blue, surrounded by swirling white clouds.
It was really very beautiful.
And orbited by a Blade ship.
A big black Blade ship.
A Blade ship, which oozed dread and fear.
Look, Kipsing whispered, but he needn't have because it drew the eye like a black hole draws matter, sucking you in. It was kind of soul destroying, just looking at it.
A Blade ship which had almost certainly sensed us as we translated back into normal space.
A Blade ship which was already wheeling around to face us, even as I watched.
It had all happened far too fast for any of us to react.
Which is why it was just as well Kipsing wasn't the only stowaway.
Shields, a male voice commanded, and there was a blue flicker on the viewing screen as we were immediately enveloped and hidden.
It happened very fast, but then the Starwave knew its master.
I turned to the entrance to the cockpit wearily, not even surprised. After all the shocks I had just experienced what was one more? And Kipsing had been convinced that the security ship's scanners shouldn't have been able to detect him, even though they had picked up six Andalites.
He was correct. They hadn't seen him at all.
And it hadn't been my imagination which told me to use the rear blasters. I was panicking too much to have thought of them.
And really, who better equipped to stow away on a ship than its master?
I smiled wearily.
Hello Arbat.
