Chapter 11

Groof waited with us in a room just a short walk away from the hangar. We were alone as a group there, and so the more talkative started to indulge a conversation, which Groof quickly directed towards his strange fascination for earrings. They were quickly getting used to him, and in a way in was good to see. I still refused to get complacent, and I made sure that others didn't fall into such an error. My eyes were constantly back and forth, scanning the small empty room and the three doorways for any signs of trouble.

No trouble came. Twenty-three minutes had passed before anybody new even showed up. It wasn't an accidental meeting either. As soon as he entered the room, we knew that he was here to see us.

The Andalite trotted in with an authoritative stride, much as Andalites usually did. He didn't look like a fighter, but more like civilian Andalites that I had become familiar with after the Yeerk War. Not quite so physically impressive, and without the shadow of prideful arrogance that often joined officers hand-in-hand. No, he looked comparatively feeble and a little twitchy. I don't think he saw us the same way.

"Asaccah!" Groof cheered. "Hello! We were just talking about Cassie's emerald loop earrings!"

((This again?)) Asaccah grumbled. ((You Hurikyfangientsn are all the same.))

Groof laughed and tapped a claw on Cassie's shoulder. "He always says that."

((Welcome, Humans and nothlits,)) Asaccah began. ((To Enrich. The heart of our operations. The lung of justice. The brain that distinguishes the truths from the lies. I am Asaccah-Sirivit-Quikerik, co-founder of our marvellous vision. I am also your host.))

It sounded awfully scripted, but at the same time I saw no reason to immediately distrust any more than I typically did. I stepped forward and engaged in the Andalite bow greeting, which he returned. "I'm Jake Berenson. I feel that I don't need to introduce myself. I think somebody has done that in advance."

Asaccah laughed nervously, and it was rather off-putting and not what I would have expected. ((Yes, yes… I must admit that we are familiar with you and the other Animorphs, and…)) He was using a stalk eye to inspect my team. He stopped on one. ((I don't recognise this one.))

I followed the eye's direction to Ely, who was still not quite sure what nightmare his sleep had dragged him into. "That's a friend. We picked him up before heading here."

That stalk eye then zapped to Jeanne. I heard nothing, so expected some stern private message was being delivered. She didn't look overly bothered, but then she never did.

((I hope you understand that this is not a situation we would usually permit,)) Asaccah mentioned with a sudden change of tone to something more cautionary. ((We are a strictly secretive organisation, known only by its members. It is by mistake that you have found us, but sometimes these things just can't be helped.))

It quickly became precarious, and though I planned to dig out some information at that point, I backtracked and rethought.

((Fortunately for you, our ambitions forbid us to simply… dispose of you. It is unjust for you to be murdered, since this has occurred through no fault of your own.))

"That's reassuring." I commented warily.

((It puts me in a difficult position,)) He mumbled. ((But from the reports I have received on you, I can be relatively sure that you're trustworthy. A little naïve and often reckless, but definitely trustworthy. Perhaps if I showed you our good intentions and our ship, we can come to some sort of agreement.))

I raised my hands to the side and smiled. "That sounds good to me."

((Then, I shall describe to you our vision,)) He announced proudly, slamming a determined hoof to the floor. It probably felt much more dramatic to him than it actually looked. ((We are a collaboration of like-minded individuals endeavouring for one universal goal. That goal is justice. That goal is equal opportunity. That goal is everything that encompasses such values. When we started, we saw hatred. We saw murder and theft. We saw greedy politicians hiding beautiful scientific advances from their fellow races, and we saw it starting war and famine on unprecedented scales. We sought to put an end to it all,

((And so we started to bring together people that shared our ideas. Those from any race that were disgusted by the fear and greed that was spreading. We found something: Everybody that joined had a secret. Everybody had some knowledge that we never had. That combined knowledge and power made us exponentially stronger. We had found a way to succeed. If we could find one member of every sentient race and convince them to join us, then they could infiltrate the highest echelons of their race's political and military organisations and pass them back to us. All their greatest advances, all their devious, warmongering schemes. We would use the universe's greatest technologies to stop those plans and halt the advances of wars to come! We could bring peace and avert disaster!))

I had listened patiently, and I had held back the urge to raise potential flaws in his plan. He looked so proud, and I couldn't fault his intention. Not the end-product, anyway. "That sounds pretty noble," I complimented. "But why did you place Jeanne with us of all people? You said higher echelons. You are not that."

((I also said that we aim to avert war,)) Asaccah huffed, probably annoyed at my question. ((We found out very quickly through our Kelbrid source that Prince Aximili had been taken, and we postulated that you would be the ones to attempt to retrieve him. Our Kelbrid source has also long reported that the gears of war were starting to churn among the military. We sent Jeanne along with you so that we could keep track of activities on the Andalite and Human side of the equation. Her findings were troubling, to say the least.))

"You didn't stop the war from starting." I dared to say.

((We are not perfect,)) He said. ((Not yet. As a covert entity, we cannot directly affect what goes on. We have to rely on other people, and sometimes other people simply cannot be pushed hard enough in the right direction.))

I nodded. From his twisting, turning displays of emotion and rather eccentric demeanour, I considered it too risky to further question his methods. We were treading a thin-enough line already. "So this ship was built with technology from all these races?" I asked.

((The best technology. Technology that governments withhold because of their value and their potential. Technology that, combined, has made us the most brilliant collaboration to have ever existed.))

"It's impressive," I granted. "And we can't wait to see more of it. With your permission."

The Andalite smiled victoriously. ((You are our guests, and you will be treated as such. Upon waking tomorrow, I hope that you will join me for a more in-depth look. But before that, I would like to offer you all a place at our pre-rest gathering. You will meet many interesting, like-minded people from races you have never known. Groof will escort you. Won't you, Groof?))

"You know I will!" Groof retorted dutifully.

Asaccah bowed and turned for the exit. ((I shall introduce you to my co-founder. I think you'll find him very interesting. Very interesting.))