The Liberation Chronicles

by L'Angel

The continuation to The After-Earth Chronicles. The Animorphs must try and liberate Earth.

5. Part Five: The Assassination

The Liberation Chronicles #5: The Assassination

Dedication: Well, now who has this entire series been dedicated to? My "J."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Just a couple things.

1. Thanks as always to Kat and Tobiasrulz. You guys are the best.
2. This story is a legitimate PG13. It's not R, but it is for mature readers only.
3. Thank you for reading!

The Liberation Chronicles #5: The Assassination

Chapter One – Cassie

The meeting at the thirty-six hour mark was a solemn one. We sat in a huddled group, feeling more scared and helpless than we had since we were teenagers.

"So what do we do?" Jake asked hollowly. I clutched his hand, trying for the moment to hold onto my sanity. I had not taken the news about my mother well, I suppose. Coupled with the fact that there was a distinct possibility that my children were on planet under assault, I was almost a basket-case. But then, I've been on the verge of being a basket-case for the last twelve years.

No one answered Jake. Finally Rachel said, "You want to know something really ironic? I told Sara she couldn't come with me because it was too dangerous." She barked a short laugh. "So much for that theory."

"So let's summarize," Marco interjected. "We either go to the Yeerk home world or we don't. If we do, we assassinate the Emperor and the war is over for good. If we don't, we go back and home and try to help out, right?" None of us answered. "Okay, you guys gotta snap out of this. We're back to the way things used to be. It's just us. We don't have the Andalite government backing us up anymore."

Marco is correct. We can no longer rely on them. We were a self-sufficient guerrilla group before – we must be so once again.

"Would going back home do any good?" Rachel asked. "That's the question."

"Not really," Jake said. "We'd just be another few warriors. A dead Emperor on the other hand . . ."

"If we go back home we get to be with our kids," I said.

"Which, in the long run, really doesn't do them any good," Marco pointed out.

"Shut up, Marco. You don't even have children." I scarcely recognized my own voice.

"Low blow, Cass," Jake said.

"Well . . ." I didn't have an excuse. I stood up and paced behind the couch. "Sorry," I finally mumbled.

"Don't worry about it," Marco replied, a little too quickly. Inwardly, I groaned. One more thing to worry about. I would talk to him later.

"Let's vote," Jake said. "I say we go."

"Me too," Rachel said. "Going home doesn't help anyone."

"Go," Tobias said, nodding.

"I'm with them," Marco said.

The majority had spoken. We were going. But they continued to look at Ax and I expectantly, probably because I was the only one who might actually vote "no," and Ax was the one who would have to pull off the actual assassination.

I shrugged. "Not that it matters, but you're right. If the Emperor's dead, the war might actually be over. I don't like it, but I vote to go."

"Ax?" Jake said. "You can veto this, man. It's your call."

There is in reality no other option, he replied, repeating what he'd said to me. We are going to the Yeerk home world.

"All right then," Jake said with a sigh. "Erek and Visser Forty-one are coming with us. I need to talk to them." He squeezed my hand and left. Ax looked after him like he was about to object to something, but remained silent.

"I'm going to go take a nap," I said, suddenly tired. "I'll see you guys later."

I let myself into my quarters and stretched under the covers. I pulled a pillow out from under my head and covered my face with it so I wouldn't have to look at the hologram of my children that was displayed opposite the bed. More than anything, I yearned to hold them and know that they were well. The others were right, of course. At home, we couldn't protect them or save them from anything, and by journeying to the Yeerk home world we might save everyone. But every instinct screamed against leaving them in harm's way, even temporarily.

And then . . . my mother.

I'd known it. Someplace deep inside I'd known my family wouldn't emerge from this unscathed.

But, God, I'd lost so much already. So, so much. My whole life had completely changed that night in the construction yard. My morals, everything I believed, had been tested, turned upside down, shaken, and torn apart. And now my mother was dead. Jordan hadn't known about my father, but I knew that if he was alive, it was only by a miracle.

I rolled over, feeling my throat block up with unshed tears. I swallowed, hit the pillow with the heel of my hand, and let out a frustrated, "Arrgh!" I hated my life. I hated everything right then. I hated the Yeerks, I hated the damn Andalites for having started this whole thing, I hated Jake for being in the military, I hated myself for being weak when everyone around me was so strong, I hated my mother for dying . . . I wanted to scream and scream and scream. And I wanted to cry, but after twelve years of tears, there was nothing left.

Another thing I hated. Tears.

I guess I eventually did fall asleep. When I awoke it was to Jake sliding in beside me and linking his arms around my waist. "Huh?" I mumbled brilliantly, half sitting up in the dark.

"It's okay, Cassie," he said. "Lie back down."

I did, curling up against his body. He was so solid, so safe, so familiar to me. God knew I needed someone familiar right then. "Jake –" I whispered. "Don't ever leave me."

"I'm right here," he said. "I'm not going anywhere." He kissed my ear softly.

I closed my eyes and felt his hand come up to stroke my hair. "I just want this whole nightmare to be over," I murmured.

"Me too," Jake replied drowsily. He gripped one of my hands in his own, his arm draped protectively over me. I buried my face in his chest, listening to the steady thump of his heartbeat. He was my rock, and had been since I was thirteen. He knew everything about me there was to know. Not for the first time, I wondered at how he was able to lend the people around him so much strength, even when he barely had enough for himself. "I love you," I whispered in the dark.

"Love you, too," came his groggy reply. I managed a small smile and closed my eyes, finally relaxing in his arms.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The next morning, I awoke very early, probably because of the long nap I'd had the night before. Knowing I wouldn't be able to sleep again, I gently disengaged myself from Jake's arms and left our quarters. A glance at a clock told me the sun would be rising in a few minutes and I decided to watch it out the huge windows on the bridge. Halfway up the stairs, I wondered if it was even visible anymore, what with all the pollution the Yeerks had caused. I shook my head and decided to try it anyway.

To my surprise, the bridge wasn't empty. Marco was seated at the computer console, pouring over several printouts and swearing under his breath at a visual. "Good morning," I said, sitting in the chair next to his.

"What? Oh, hi, Cassie. Yeah, good morning."

"You're up pretty early."

He snorted. "More like really late."

"You never went to bed?"

"Nah, I'm used to it." He tossed a sheaf of papers carelessly onto the floor. "Crap," he muttered.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh, nothing. Just some technical stuff. Cloaking system's gone temporarily amok. I'll fix it before we take off."

"I hope so," I said, suddenly worried.

He shrugged. "So why are you up so early?"

"Wanted to watch the sunrise."

Marco glanced up briefly. "Cool." The sky was beginning to turn from gray to light yellow. Maybe I'd be able to see it after all.

"Look," I said after a few moments of silence. "I'm sorry about what I said yesterday."

"Why?" he asked with a laugh. "It's true – I don't have kids. Why should you be sorry for stating the obvious?"

"Because of the way I said it."

He sighed and swiveled around to face me. "Cassie, listen to me. Don't worry about it. You were right. I have no personal ties. No one to worry about. You guys do. Of course you're going to be more emotional about this decision. Case closed."

"I still feel bad about it."

He didn't answer for a long time. We both stared out the window and watched as an unnaturally orange sun gradually peeked over the horizon. Finally he said, half to himself, "Who ever thought I'd end up like this?"

I glanced him. "What do you mean?"

"Look at me, Cassie."

I did. Marco was thin, with long, unkempt black hair. He was slumped in his chair, head resting on one hand, staring intently out the window, with printouts strewn all around him. Then he met my eyes and I suddenly realized what he meant.

His eyes. Marco had always had the definition of "laughing eyes." Always, even when the situation was serious, or seemingly hopeless. He was always there, laughing about how completely INSANE our lives were. He could be bleeding and missing a limb and still crack a joke. I had admired that about him, because I was usually so serious.

But now his eyes were red-rimmed from lack of sleep, and outlined by dark shadows that told me just how exhausted he really was. They were the eyes of a fifty-year-old man, I realized.

Finally he broke the silence. "I'm a workaholic. Can you believe it? Me."

I didn't know what to say, so I didn't say anything. It was true, he worked almost around the clock. When I didn't reply he continued, "Of everyone, I have the least. I don't have any family that's not a Controller. No wife, no kids. Like you said, no personal ties. So I work."

"I had no idea," I whispered.

"Me neither, really. It just occurred to me, sitting here. I thought I was the same as I always had been. But I'm not. I think your comment last night made me realize that I don't have anything." It wasn't self-pity, I thought. Simply a statement of the facts. And very true.

"You have us," I said. "When we get back, you should ask to be transferred to SD3. Be closer."

"I might," he said. "But you guys have your own lives. You're married, kids. The American dream, only with blue-furred aliens."

"What about Ax?" I said. "He's not married. He doesn't have kids."

"Okay, first of all, Ax's situation is different. He's on his own planet, among his own people. Second of all, don't play dumb with me. He's got something he's worried about back home, and I'm guessing it's a someone. And you know it."

"Maybe."

"Not maybe. I don't know who, but there's someone." I didn't answer. I knew very well who. But Ax hadn't said anything to me so I wasn't spilling the beans yet.

"Anyhow," Marco said. "There's not really much to do about it." He yawned. "I'm going to go catch a nap. I'll see you later."

"Yeah, later." He left and I stared out the window. Marco had never liked being open with his emotions – I think it made him feel weak. For him to say as much as he did to me meant it was really bothering him.

'There's not really much to do about it.' Or was there?

Good grief, I thought. Now is not the time to be thinking about playing matchmaker. But it had kept me from worrying about my children, at least for a little while. And it made me smile, something I hadn't been doing much of lately.

I stood up. Through the smog, I saw the sky outside was blue. It was well-past sunrise, and I could hear someone moving around in the kitchen.

Almost normal, I thought.

Except for the minor detail that we were on a space ship.

And for the fact that in a couple of days we'd be undertaking the most dangerous mission we'd ever attempted.

I sighed to myself as I went down the stairs. The rock in my stomach had returned.

Chapter Two – Jordan

Two weeks in a confined area with that Andalite, Visser Forty-one grumbled to me.

If it helps, I'm sure he's not any happier about it than you are, I replied.

That does not help.

"Good luck, Jordan . . . Visser," Toby Hamee was saying.

"Thanks, Toby." You can't exactly hug a Hork-Bajir so I sort of shook her claw. Visser Forty-one was letting me have control for the moment. "See you soon."

She nodded. I turned and entered The Elfangor. I caught one last glimpse of Toby before my sister shut the door for the final time. I'm going to miss her, I remarked to the Visser.

For a Hork-Bajir, she is very good company, she agreed.

"Are you coming up to the bridge?" Rachel asked. Erek was already there, I presumed, because I didn't see him anywhere on the lower level.

"Sure," I replied, and followed her up the stairs.

"Well," she said, staring about uncertainly. "We weren't expecting extra passengers." Erek, who didn't need a seat-belt, stood beside Jake.

We expect liftoff to be smooth, Ax, the Andalite, said. I felt a wave of disgust from the Visser.

Oh, stop it! I admonished her. Grow up.

"That's okay," I said. "I'll just sit on the floor."

As I sat next to Cassie's chair, away from the stairwell, I saw her lean over and whisper to Marco, "Did you ever fix that little problem?"

"Yeah, don't worry about it," he said.

As Ax predicted, liftoff was very smooth. One moment we were on solid ground, and few minutes later I was glimpsing Earth out of the front window.

Earth really is a lovely planet, the Visser remarked to my surprise. My home world is very barren.

It was prettier before, I could not resist saying. The ugly brown smog from the Yeerks' industrial activities shrouded the whole face of the planet.

It is not my fault.

Really? You were in charge, if I remember correctly.

I had orders!

Nuremberg Trials, Visser. Check my memories. She did – and didn't say anything for a long time after that.

We stayed on the bridge for about another half an hour, while Jake and the others made sure everything was in order. Then Rachel took me downstairs and showed me where I was going to stay. "Marco offered to give up his room," she said. "So you're in here."

"That was sure nice of him," I said.

"Yes, it was," she answered in a tone that meant she didn't quite believe it herself. "He even cleaned it up. Should have seen it before. Pigsty."

"Where's he going to sleep?"

"Couch. You need anything?"

"Nope, thanks." She left and I lay down on the bed. Alone, but, like always, not really alone.

Thanks for letting me have control, I said.

It is best. They are your friends, not mine.

They could be yours, too.

No, she sighed. They have fought my species for too long. And certain members of my race have done a fine job of botching Yeerk relations with other sentient species for years to come.

We were both silent for awhile, until I had almost drifted off to sleep. (It had been months since I had slept on a real bed as opposed to the ground.) But I awoke when she said, I have been considering something.

What?

Perhaps it would be best if I left you while we are on the ship. Erek could sustain me until I was needed.

You don't have to do that! Not that I didn't cherish the thought of being free, but the Visser had become a friend of sorts. I didn't want her to put herself in some kind of self-imposed exile.

Everyone would be far more comfortable if I did. I make them all nervous.

There was no arguing that. With the exception of Cassie, they were all suspicious of her, simply because she was a Yeerk. It was understandable, but also regrettable, because she could actually be very nice – when she wasn't trying to play the role of a tough Visser.

See, you agree, she said, even though I hadn't replied. My emotions and thoughts were open to her like a book. Don't try to hide it. It would be easier.

I suppose. Can you communicate with Erek?

Yes. I can even see out of his eyes if he lets me. I just do not have the option of control.

Well . . . if you want to do it, I won't argue. It would also prove to the others that you really are different. They might accept you better.

I have thought of that as well.

We went and found Erek in the kitchen, who agreed that it was probably a good idea. I'll talk to you later then, I said, tilting my head so she could drop into Erek's hands. I felt a brief, sharp pain in my ear, and then momentary confusion as my mind came fully under my control.

"This is probably best," Erek said. "I think it's a wise decision."

I nodded. "Thanks, Erek." I felt the pang of loneliness I always felt when the Visser wasn't in my head. It was strange – I would always choose being free over being a Controller. But the Visser had become a friend (albeit one I was often at odds with) and I missed her when she was gone. I watched Erek place her carefully in his head.

"Hi, Erek," Rachel said, walking in. I saw her hesitate slightly. "Hey –"

"Just Jordan right now," I said with lopsided smile.

"I didn't think the Visser needed her Kandrona rays just yet."

"She didn't," I answered. "She just thought it was best for all concerned if she and I were . . . separate while we were on the ship."

"Oh," she said in surprise. "That's considerate of her."

"Yes," I said pointedly. "It is."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Probably the weirdest thing about being a Controller for a long time is no longer being used to silence in your own head. Not having silence, not being able to think, is sometimes what drives "normal" people insane. I, on the other hand, was used to internal dialogue, to having two completely separate personalities exist within my own mind. I won't say that I enjoyed it since it is impossible to enjoy slavery, but it wasn't hell the way it was for most of my counterparts. As I lay in bed that night, listening to the steady hum of the engines, I felt like the silence in my head was deafening, almost crushing me. I didn't know how to think without someone else hearing me, I discovered. It was the first time in over seven years that I had been without a Yeerk for more than a couple of hours.

But did I want her back?

No, I realized. I could get used to being alone again. Friends or not, I was at her mercy. She was a kind master, but I was still her slave.

I finally rolled out of bed and stumbled through the dark to the kitchen. I pulled a glass out of a cupboard and filled it with water from the tap. Leaving the light off so as not to wake Marco who was sleeping on the couch, I sat in one of the hard-backed kitchen chairs. I rubbed my eyes and let out a silent sigh.

Before I left, I paused and looked toward the living room where Marco slept. He snored loudly and rolled over. I smiled.

I was still smiling as I walked quietly past the foot of the couch. Unfortunately, I wasn't looking where I was going. I was rewarded for my carelessness with a sharp stab in my foot as I stubbed my toe on the corner of the counter. I gasped in pain and swore, gripping my foot in one hand and flailing helplessly with the other as I hopped in an off-balance circle on my uninjured foot. "Owowowow!" I grunted. Please don't let Marco wake up, I thought desperately.

The Fates were not kind.

As the pain finally began to fade from my foot, I stumbled into the couch and pitched backwards over the arm – and right onto Marco. "Oh, God!" I hissed in horror.

"What the hell – ?" he gasped, jerking straight up.

"Sorry! So, so, so sorry! Really, I am! Just go back to sleep," I whispered frantically.

"Jordan?" he asked putting one hand to his head and squinting at me in the dark.

"Unfortunately," I replied in humiliation. "Look, just go back to sleep. I'm really sorry."

"Don't worry about it," he said. "You okay?"

"Yeah, just stubbed my toe."

"What're you doing up, anyway?"

"I just couldn't sleep."

"What's wrong?"

"Oh . . . thanks, but it's okay. I didn't wake you up to talk your ear off."

"Well, I'm up, so talk away."

"Yeah, I guess so." I really did want to talk to somebody, so I sat next to him on the couch. But then I found I didn't know how to begin. "I don't know, it's strange," I finally said. He looked at me expectantly. "I miss Visser Forty-one. Isn't that crazy? I'm so used to her. We're almost . . . symbiontes, I suppose." I shrugged. "There's not really anything anyone can do. I just have to get used to it."

"She's company. Everyone needs someone to talk to."

"Yes, she's definitely that. But most people don't have that someone in their head."

"I'll give you that." He and I both laughed a little, but then there was a moment of awkward silence.

"What about you?" I finally asked. "Who do you talk to?"

"Me?" he said. "Well, to tell you the truth, I don't have anyone like Jake has Cassie or Tobias has Rachel. I lone it, most of the time."

"Oh." I tried to make out the details of Marco's face in the dark. I'd always found him attractive, even when we were kids. He was still handsome, I realized, but in a more mature way.

"I don't really have anyone," he said. Then he cleared his throat. "I hate doing this. Self-pity doesn't do me any good and it just brings down the people around me."

"I know what you mean," I said. "But you know . . . you can always talk to me."

He smiled. "Thanks, but I barely know you. I mean, I don't even know why I've said this much."

I didn't answer. He got up and poured a glass of water for himself. When he returned, we both kinda stared off into nothingness for awhile. "You know," I said at last. "We didn't really know each other as kids. But I always liked you. You never noticed me," I added ruefully.

He laughed. "Oh, Jordan. I noticed you."

"You did?"

"When we got older and two years wasn't such a difference anymore . . . believe me, I noticed you. But Rachel would have killed me."

"She was slightly overprotective," I said. "She scared off several of my boyfriends she deemed 'unworthy.'"

"Xena," he said affectionately.

"Yup. Xena." More silence. "Well," I finally said. "I'd better let you go back to sleep." I stood up.

So did Marco. "I'll walk you back to your room," he said.

"Um . . . sure. Thanks." Ten paces later I turned to him and said, "Well, we're here. Thanks for the escort."

"Didn't want you to stub your toe again." I laughed as I punched in the combination. The door slid dutifully open and I turned to say good night.

"I'll –" I began. And was cut off as Marco suddenly wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled my body into his. We stared at each other for a long moment. Slowly, his hand traveled up my back and through my long hair until it was behind my head and his other arm held my waist. My knees were weak and trembling, just like they always said in those insipid supermarket romance novels. "Why did you notice me?" I whispered.

"You were beautiful," he replied softly. "And you had the most wonderful smile I'd ever seen." Then he kissed me. I knew he would, but it was still enough of a shock that I suppose I didn't respond very much the first time. His lips brushed mine and lingered for only a few seconds before he drew back uncertainly. We stared at each other, and then my hands slowly came up to touch his back and I kissed him, a little longer this time. But after only a few seconds more, I pulled away as well. I was out of practice, as I knew he was, and we were both unsure of ourselves. But then we were through testing the waters.

The third time, we kissed each other. I felt his tongue touch mine and I shivered. My arms linked around his neck and his hold around my waist tightened. I let myself fall into the kiss and forget everything, from the war to the silence in my own head. There was just Marco's hands on my back and his lips on my own.

When it finally ended I leaned my head on his shoulder. "Wow," I whispered in awe.

"Yeah," he replied, sounding just as dumb struck.

We stood there for a few moments in each other's arms. At last I said, "I really should try to sleep tonight."

"Yeah. But . . . could I ask a favor?"

"Anything."

"Could you not tell your sister about this?"

I laughed quietly. "Sure."

"Thanks."

"Good night, Marco. Sweet dreams."

With a mischievous smile, he answered, "I'm very sure they will be."

Chapter Three – Marco

"I'll get the rest of these dishes," I said as dinner ended. The others, sitting around the table, looked up in surprise.

"You sure?" Jake said.

"Yeah, no problem."

"I'll help you," Jordan volunteered.

"Thanks," I said, scrubbing a plate.

"You guys have been doing the dishes a lot," Rachel said, looking at us strangely. Suspiciously?

"Yeah, but we don't mind," Jordan said, carefully not looking at me. If she did, we would both start laughing. No, we definitely didn't mind. In fact, I lived for doing dishes with Jordan.

As soon as the others left, I felt her come up behind and put her hands on my butt. I turned around kissed her. "Do you think Rachel suspects something?" I asked.

"No," she replied, and kissed me back. "If she did she'd say something."

"Good. I kinda like sneaking around."

Footsteps in the hall. Damn. We jumped apart and I handed her a clean, dripping plate. She quickly began wiping it with a dishtowel while I turned the water on.

"Ouch!" I gasped as scalding hot water hit my hands.

"Brilliant," she muttered to me.

"Be quiet or I'll have to –" Jake came in and we were instantly silent.

"Everything okay?" he asked, giving us a very odd look as he filled a glass of water.

"Yup," we said at the same time, and he gave us an even stranger look.

"You sure?" We nodded.

"Okay," he replied dubiously, and left.

I immediately grabbed her and said, "I think we're pretty bad at this secrecy thing."

"Probably."

We spent the next few minutes attempting to wash the dishes and make out at the same time. Suddenly we both jumped as we heard, "Jordan! Can you come here?"

"My sister bellows," Jordan said, rolling her eyes. She put her lips next to my ear and whispered huskily, "Coming by later?"

I smiled. "Of course."

She grinned back and ran off, yelling impatiently, "What?"

I finished the dishes and pulled out the book I was reading on the possible use of organic cells in computers. After a few minutes, Jake walked in wordlessly and sat down to read his own book on military strategy. (Andalites had never learned the definition of the word "fiction" – all their books fell into three categories: history, science, or military.) After a long silence he said, "Okay, this is going to sound completely out of the blue, but . . . is something going on between you and Jordan?"

I dropped my book. "What?" I sputtered stupidly. How the hell did he figure that out? I wondered. She and I had only been a . . . a thing for a week! We were bad at hiding it, but I thought we'd been more discreet than that!

"Sorry, I know it sounds strange, but the two of you have been acting really weird lately, even for you, and that was the only reason I could come up with. Cassie thought I was nuts, too."

I sighed. Jake is my best friend going back forever. I should have known he would figure it out. "You're not nuts," I said.

His eyes widened. "You're joking," he said flatly. I shook my head. "Holy . . ." he mumbled, trailing off. Then he said loudly, "Man, Rachel is gonna –"

"Shhh," I hissed frantically. "Keep your voice down. No one else knows yet and that's why. Rachel would have my hide nailed to the wall. So you'd better keep your mouth shut, especially with Cassie. You know she and Rachel can't keep secrets from each other."

He nodded. "How did it happen?"

I shrugged. "How'd it happen between you and Cassie? It just happened."

"When?"

"The first night on the ship. She couldn't sleep and came out here for something to drink. She stubbed her toe on the counter, fell onto the couch, and woke me. We talked for awhile, I walked her back to her room, and next thing I knew we were –"

"Playing tonsil hockey?"

I stared at him in shock. "Jake!"

"Sorry, couldn't resist. I've never really gotten the chance to rag on you the way you always did on me and Cassie."

"Knew that was going to come back and haunt me. Just don't tell Rachel, okay?"

"I promise."

We both went back to our books for awhile, until we looked up at the sound of footsteps on the stairs coming down from the bridge.

It was Jordan. "Well, I'm going to bed. See you two in the morning." She yawned and let herself in her room.

Jake looked at me and tried to stifle a laugh. He ended up snorting in a very undignified manner while I stared at him in mock-contempt. "And just what, O Fearless Leader, is so funny?"

"'See you in the morning,'" he replied. "Yeah, right."

"Oh, shut up!" I replied, flinging a throw pillow at his head.

"Okay, children, that's enough," I heard Cassie say. I looked up from where I'd been aiming another pillow while Jake cowered. "Sweetie, I'm going to bed. Are you coming soon?"

"Yeah," he said. "I'll be right there." She disappeared down the hall.

"One word to Rachel . . ." I warned.

"Don't worry," he said. "My lips are sealed. Good night."

"'Night." I quickly got ready for bed and lay down on the couch with the lights off except for the one in the hallway. I wanted to make it seem like I'd already gone to bed when Rachel came downstairs.

A few minutes later I heard the clatter of two pairs of human feet and one set of Andalite hooves on the stairs. "Shh," I heard Rachel whisper. "Marco's asleep."

There was pause.

"Good night, Ax," Tobias said quietly, as if Ax had already said it. He must have kept his thought-speak private.

"See you in the morning," Rachel added. Two doors shut shortly after.

I threw off the covers and sat up, listening. There was nothing. Everyone was in bed and Erek was staying upstairs to keep an eye on things during the night. I crept across the hall and knocked. The door slid open and Jordan grabbed the front of my shirt, pulling me in. "Took you long enough," she whispered.

"Sorry. I'll be sure to make it up to you."

"Remember what we said."

"I know, I know. Not until we're married. And I'm in complete agreement."

"Good. Because this could look really incriminating if someone caught us."

"They're not going to." As I kissed her, I thought that this was most definitely not the time to tell her that someone already had. Jake wasn't going to say anything. There was nothing to worry about.

And for a full five minutes it was impossible to worry because most of the blood had drained right out of my head. Until Jordan suddenly pulled away from me. "What?" I whined, wondering what in the universe could be important enough to warrant stopping.

"Shush," she replied.

There it was. A knock. I groaned softly. "Who is it?" Jordan called in her best "just woke up out of a sound sleep" imitation.

"It's me," Rachel's voice replied. "Can you let me in? I have to borrow something."

"Oh, God!" I hissed. "She's going to kill me. She will actually murder me right here."

"Not if she doesn't see you. Hide!"

"Where?"

"Coming, Rach," she called. "The bathroom! Go!" she whispered frantically. She shoved me toward it and I jumped into the small, dark room. I closed the door most of the way, but left it open enough to hear. I flattened myself against the wall.

"Sorry for waking you up," Rachel apologized as Jordan let her in.

"That's okay. I wasn't asleep for that long."

"Please, your clothes and hair are a mess. You were out for at least an hour." I almost choked and was glad I couldn't see Jordan's face.

"What do you need?"

"Tampons," Rachel replied matter-of-factly. I felt my ears get red.

"Sure," Jordan said after a brief hesitation. "Just a sec."

She came in. "Sorry," she mumbled as she fetched the required . . . hygiene products from a bag. Her own ears were scarlet.

"Well, PMS explains that last few days. What explains the rest of the time?" I replied in a barely audible whisper.

She paused and had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. "You're not helping this," she finally hissed when she was under control again.

"Jordan?"

"Coming, I can't find . . ." She bent over again.

Suddenly, to my complete horror I heard footsteps coming closer. Oh, no! I thought. Please no. No.

"Jordan?" Rachel said, sticking her head in. I froze. "Could you . . ." Her voice faded as she saw me.

"Hi, Rachel," I said squeakily.

She looked from me to her sister and back again. I glanced at Jordan and realized I must have the same "deer caught in the headlights" look as she did. "Oh my God!!" Rachel finally half-screamed in a mix of horror, disgust, and shock. "I don't believe it!"

"Please don't kill me!" I managed.

"Shut up, you cretin! Are you out of your mind?! Is that it? Jordan is my sister, and you're . . . I don't even want to know what you are doing. Lord, the image is just . . . YUCK!"

"Hey!" I said indignantly.

"And, Jordan!" she continued. "It's Marco!"

"So?" she said.

"Yeah," I added. "So?"

"You," she snapped at me. "Shut up and butt out!"

"Okay, I'm just going back to my couch now . . ." I said, starting to leave.

"No way!" Rachel replied. "You stand right there!"

Just then someone knocked loudly on the door. "Is everything okay?" Tobias called. "Rachel, you screamed loud enough to wake everyone up."

She spun on her heel and stalked through the bedroom to open the door. "You want to know what happened?" she asked. "I'll tell you what happened. He," she said furiously, jabbing her finger at me, "has been screwing my sister!"

"Rachel!" Jordan cried. "We didn't do anything!" I slunk out of the bathroom and dared to look up long enough to see who Rachel had addressed. To my utter humiliation, it was everyone: Jake, who was doing his best to look like he hadn't known anything – and failing miserably; Tobias, who was fighting a grin; Cassie, who was looking at me in a wholly disapproving manner; Erek, whose android face I couldn't read; and Ax, who simply looked baffled.

What is "screwing"? he asked. Tobias turned and whispered something in his ear. Ax's eyes widened.

"It doesn't matter what it is!" I said. "We didn't do it!"

"And that doesn't really matter either," Rachel said. She was absolutely livid. "I can't believe either of you!"

"You know," I said. "I'm getting slightly offended by this."

Rachel looked close to slapping me. Instead, she made a frustrated noise in her throat, and stormed out of the room, shoving her way through the crowd gathered around the door.

There was silence. Finally Jordan said, "Okay, show's over." Neither she nor I could quite meet the others' eyes as they dispersed.

Before he left, Tobias said, "I'll talk to her."

"Thanks," Jordan said. When we were alone, she said, "You should go."

"Yeah, definitely . . . I'm sorry we're going to have to stop sneaking around and step into the spotlight." I smiled at her, but she just kinda sighed.

"Me too."

Chapter Four – Tobias

"Rachel –" I began as I entered our room.

"Can you believe this, Tobias?" she replied, pacing back and forth in a frenzy. "I mean Marco and my sister. I can't believe it!"

"I can," I said carefully, sitting on the bed.

"What?" she replied incredulously, finally standing still and facing me. "How?"

I shrugged. "Marco's lonely. And you're sister . . . well, her situation's a little odd. They're the only humans on this ship who aren't married."

"Are you saying they're together because it's convenient? Because I swear, if that's the reason and Marco is just using her, I will kill him."

"No! Rachel! You have to get a grip! Why are you so upset, anyway? I'd think you'd be happy for Jordan."

She softened slightly. "Because . . . she's my little sister. I don't want her to get hurt. And Marco's not always the most considerate person." She bit her lip. "I'm just looking out for her."

I reached out and took her hand, pulling her into my arms. "I know, and that's very sweet. But Jordan's twenty-three now. She can look after herself. And Marco's changed more than you know."

She sighed. "I guess. I still don't get it though. I mean . . . it's Marco."

I laughed. "This from the girl who fell in love with Bird-boy when she could have had any guy she wanted?"

"Good point." She sighed. "I really flipped out, didn't I?"

"I think Marco was fearing for his life."

"I'll apologize in the morning."

"Good girl." I kissed her. "Good night."

She sighed and removed herself from my lap. "Good night."

The next morning, I got up before Rachel and went out to the kitchen. I found Erek, Jordan, and Marco sitting in a group, talking. "Good morning," I greeted them.

"How mad is she really?" Jordan answered worriedly.

"Well," I said, sitting on the couch. "She's definitely calmer. She's just concerned about you, Jordan."

"Why?" she asked.

"Yeah," Marco said, looking offended. "Why?"

I shrugged. "She's your big sister. She wants to take care of you."

"Well, I'm not sixteen anymore. I can take care of myself just fine."

"That's what I told her."

"Thank you."

"She's planning to talk to you two this morning, I think," I said.

"Oh, goody," Jordan replied sarcastically.

"Don't worry. I think she's going to keep her temper this time. It was just a shock."

"Well, the Visser had the same reaction," Erek said with a laugh.

Jordan nodded. "She and I spent some time together this morning. She and Rachel would get along quite well: 'Are you crazy?!'" She shook her head. "Why do people think I don't know how to handle this?"

"And why do people seem to think I'm an idiotic pig?" Marco asked.

"Marco, this is Rachel we're talking about. You two have been at it for the past decade and now you're dating her sister. And Jordan, of all of us, Rachel felt the worst about leaving after the war. The rest of us tried to look at it like we were leaving so that one day we could return and do what we're doing now. She thought of it as abandoning you guys. She couldn't protect you then, so I guess she's trying to make up for it now. If it helps, she's very protective when it comes to our daughter."

"That doesn't help at all. Your daughter's five. I'm not a child."

"Just be understanding, please."

"Okay," she promised somewhat grudgingly.

"Thank you," I said. "By the way . . . there's something I wanted to ask you, Marco."

"Yeah?"

"Well, you hear Rachel knock and you hide in the bathroom."

"So?"

"Why didn't you just morph to flea or something? She would never have seen you."

He and Jordan stared at each other for a long moment. Erek tried not laugh, and I patiently waited to see what Marco would come up with. "Well, Tobias," he finally said. "There's a long, complicated answer to that question."

"I see. And what would that be?"

"Timing."

"Timing," I repeated, raising my eyebrows.

"Yeah, the timing was . . . all wrong."

"Ah . . . so what you're saying is you didn't think of it."

"Never even entered my mind," he said, while Erek and I gave up trying not to laugh.

Just then, Rachel came in. "Hi," she said quietly, and the laughter quickly stopped.

"Hello," Jordan replied calmly. "Sleep well?"

"May I talk to you and Marco?"

"Sure." The three of them moved up to the bridge for some privacy.

Erek looked at me with raised eyebrows. "They do make an interesting couple."

I laughed. "So did Rachel and I when we were younger. If they're happy, then I'm happy for them."

"At least life isn't dull."

"That's for sure."

Yes. That is one of the advantages to generally not having females in the military. We have none of these sorts of conflicts, Ax said, his hooves clicking on the floor as he crossed from his room to the blue-green grass and began to slowly trot around the perimeter, grazing.

"Do us all a favor and don't say that in front of Rachel," I said.

I know, he said. He came to a stop near the edge and we all paused, listening. No one is screaming, he remarked with a touch of human humor.

"Actually, I was listening more for the sound of falling bodies," Erek answered, smiling.

A few minutes later, Jordan came downstairs. "Everything okay?" I asked.

"Miraculously, we all survived," she replied with a sigh. "Erek, Marco wants to know what you did to the main computer."

"Just a couple of adjustments."

"Yeah, a couple of adjustments that seem to have thrown Andalite technology ahead by about . . . oh, two centuries."

"Oh, dear." Erek bolted up the stairs and Jordan followed, chuckling.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Life on The Elfangor crept along at the speed of sleepy turtle for the next week. Things between Jordan and Rachel were strained, though neither of them was outright angry. Jordan and Marco still crept around somewhat, because if Rachel caught them together, it was always uncomfortable. The rest of us thought the whole situation was pretty funny, but didn't dare say so.

Ax, I noticed, grew increasingly nervous. He slept little and ate even less, and spent a great deal of time brooding. When I tried to talk to him, all I got was, There is no choice to be made. My life is not my own.

"Your life is your own, Ax! You don't have to do this!"

Yes, he'd said resignedly. It is not that I mind dying. I would die with great honor – no warrior can ask for more. It is leaving Salia and not having a chance to tell her everything I wanted to that makes me fearful.

"Ax, please . . ." But he wouldn't listen. And when anyone else was around, he tried to act like he was feeling fine about it. He even hid his fears from Cassie.

But the night before Jake said we would enter the orbit of the Yeerk home world, he came to me while I was standing watch on the bridge. We were out of Z-space, but still could not see the planet. We were cloaked, and didn't think we were in danger due to the fact that we were still a long ways away (and because the Andalites always had a ship or two guarding the home world), but Jake and Ax had set up a watch schedule just the same. They used an extremely sophisticated system that involved pulling names out of a bowl, and I had the ill luck to pull the five to nine in the morning watch.

So that morning, I was sitting in Jake's chair, half asleep, when I heard the clatter of hooves on the hard floor beside me. I jerked my head up from where it had been leaning on my hand and said, "Huh? What?"

Hello, Tobias.

"Oh, hey, Ax. I thought you were on last night."

I was.

"Oh." I checked my watch. "It's ten-after-five in the morning. What's up?"

I need to give you something and I wanted to do it when we were alone. I do not know when the next opportunity will arise.

"Oh . . . okay." He handed me two letters, folded and sealed. I turned them over and saw, in Andalite script, my name on one, and Salia's on the other. "What is this?"

They are letters. In the event that something happens to me during the assassination attempt, you are to read yours and give Salia's to her.

I studied him, and saw that it was useless to try to reassure him. "Sure, Ax," I said.

Thank you. He stared out the front window of the bridge for a long time, while I tried to keep from dozing off. Finally he whispered, What do you believe it is like to die?

He caught me completely off guard. "Uh . . ." I stuttered. "I don't know. I guess no one does, not until it happens."

I was wrong when I said that dying did not frighten me. It frightens me very badly.

"You don't have to worry about it –"

Please, Tobias. We both know the odds of me surviving the confrontation with the Emperor are small. I would rather face that fact, and take care of the things I need to, than deny it until it is too late.

I nodded. "Okay. Well, I think my beliefs are different than yours, Ax. I think that after we die, there's something more out there. Another level, or heaven, or something. Andalites don't believe that."

Yes, that is true. Andalites do not believe in an afterlife. I noticed that he didn't say, We do not believe in an afterlife.

"I think it's better to believe in something," I said carefully. "Maybe then you don't feel like dying's such frightening thing."

I believe that is so, Tobias, he said. I find myself wishing I could believe in an afterlife or a god of some sort. But I cannot. I have been taught otherwise for too long.

There was another long silence. After awhile he said, I should leave you to your watch. I am sorry to have bothered you.

"Don't be, Ax. Anytime you want to talk, you know I'm there."

I know, my shorm. And I am grateful.

He left. I raked a hand through my hair and leaned back in the seat. I was frightened for Ax as well. And for everyone, because if we didn't succeed, we were all dead. There were more lives that depended upon us than our own – among them, our children's.

Esplin 9466 had been our enemy for years. He had taken our home and loved ones from us once, but this time we would win – had to win. At that moment, thinking of my daughter living on a world under attack, I made a private vow.

If Ax died and the Emperor still lived, I would kill him right then and there.

Chapter Five – Ax

The next afternoon, Prince Jake and I asked to others to meet on the bridge. We were to finalize our plans for assassinating the Emperor.

"Our last intelligence report said that the Emperor was ordering a gathering of the first twenty Vissers in the Empire," Jordan (or, rather, Visser Forty-one) said. I watched her carefully as she paced back and forth, gesturing. I still did not fully trust her. "He wanted them to take oaths of loyalty. Of these Vissers, there are four loyal to the peace movement. They are Vissers Ten, Fourteen, Fifteen, and Twenty. The rest belong to the Emperor."

"How'd they manage to rise so high and still advocate for peace?" Rachel asked.

"Two ways: one, they rose to that rank before they became enlightened, and two, they don't advocate the way I do. They hold the private conviction that peace is better than this endless war, but they don't dare say anything. Vissers Ten and Fourteen have helped me in small ways at times, but it is because of my middle station that I am able to be a successful leader of the movement."

"Anyhow, continue," Prince Jake said.

"All the Vissers will be staying in the Emperor's fortress, a structure that used to belong to the Council of Thirteen. It is extremely difficult to gain entrance. However . . . Visser Eleven, who happens to have a human female host, was not able to attend. I believe if I said I was her, they might let me in."

Would they know what this other host looks like? I asked.

She shook her head. "Vissers only need notify the Council when there is a change in their host's species. They wouldn't know the difference."

"How would we get in?" Tobias asked.

"I suggest four of you morph something small and stay with me while I walk in. The other two should morph Hork-Bajir and be my "guards." Once we're there, we need to find out where everyone is staying. I need to contact the Vissers loyal to the peace movement. They can be ready to handle the others while we take care of the Emperor. When he is dead, I expect many of the Vissers loyal to him may switch sides."

How do we reach the Emperor? I said.

"I'll find an empty room somewhere near the Emperor's quarters. While you demorph and morph, I'll get him to open the door and keep him busy."

"How?" Prince Jake asked suspiciously.

"Well," she said slowly. "I think my best bet might be with one of those." She pointed at the Shredder that hung casually from Rachel's belt. "We'll go at night. He'll be asleep, and I'll take out the guards. You guys will be in before help can arrive. The Andalite" – she nodded at me – "will kill him, the rest of you will take care of the guards, and my friends will capture his pets."

And then what will you do? I asked cynically. Become the Empress of the Yeerk Empire? Liberator becomes dictator?

She spun around. "Listen to me, you self-righteous, arrogant pig. I have risked my life for my people, and even for your people. If this doesn't go well, I'll be tried for treason and sentenced to Kandrona starvation."

And we will die as well, I replied. And our families.

"Fine," she said, after a long silence. "That is fine. I should have expected this from you. After all, you are the brother of Beast Elfangor, the very embodiment of everything Andalites stand for. You're just like him."

Thank you, I snapped as she spun around and stormed away.

"Ax," Prince Jake said after she was out of hearing range. "I don't think that was very prudent, in light of our situation."

I do not like her. And I do not like this plan. We are far too dependent upon her. At any moment, she could choose to betray us.

"She won't," Rachel said decisively.

How do you know this? I asked. You humans believe what you see far too easily. She looks like your sister to you, Rachel. Therefore, you trust her. But she is not your sister! She is a Yeerk! A parasitic slug. A slave master.

No one answered for awhile. Then Prince Jake said, "She is a Yeerk. But she is all we have. We have to trust her."

Yes, I agreed shortly. I suppose we must. I left as well, and did not emerge from my quarters for the remainder of the night.

Shortly after midnight, Prince Jake knocked on my door to inform me that we had entered the orbit of the Yeerk home world. Thank you, I replied without opening the door.

In the morning, he knocked once more. "Ax. Meeting. Bridge. Now," he said shortly. I opened the door and followed him up the stairs, where he and I assumed control of our stations.

"It's late afternoon at the capitol," he said. "Perfect timing. We go now. Erek will stay with the ship. Visser, do you have the communicator?"

"Yes," she answered, holding up a tiny, two way communicator that could be hidden in her clothing. It would link us to Erek in case of difficulty.

"Okay, then. Let's do this." Erek wished us good luck, and the seven of us, plus the Visser, moved into a small room just off the main bridge that had never been previously used: the docking platform for the even smaller vessel that would take us from the ship to the planet. It was an extremely tight fit, but it would be a short trip.

"How long?" Rachel asked Marco.

"Less than half an hour."

"How do we find a place to land without being seen?" Cassie asked. She was the only one who looked as if she was possibly more nervous than I.

"We don't," Marco replied. "We land on his normal landing base and Visser Eleven here and her Hork-Bajir guards come out. We walk straight in."

"It's too easy," Cassie said. I privately agreed.

Twenty minutes later, we morphed – Prince Jake, Cassie, Marco, and I to fly; Tobias and Rachel to Hork-Bajir.

Been a long time since we did this, Tobias remarked.

"Piece of cake," Marco replied as he sprouted a pair of gossamer wings. A few seconds later, his fly proboscis shot from his nose and mouth and he added, Like riding a bike. You never forget.

Two hours, I reminded the Visser. Do not exceed that limit for any reason.

"I know," she said, and even my fly ears sensed the aggravation in her voice.

Are you certain you can land this? Marco asked worriedly.

"Of course," she hissed. "It's not that much different from a Yeerk vessel."

A few moments later, I sensed a large vibration through my sensitive fly legs. "We're here," she murmured. "Hop on." We did, clinging to the inside of her sleeve.

She moved, exiting the ship. "Stop!" I heard a strong voice command her. "State your name and business."

"I am Kreylin 174 of the Sulp Niar pool, Visser Eleven. I have come to swear loyalty to the esteemed Emperor Esplin 9466."

"Visser," the voice replied, instantly obsequious and simpering. "I sincerely apologize. We were not expecting you."

"I know. My agenda changed and I was able to attend after all."

"Ah." To our relief, the guard did not ask why she had not announced her change of plans. "In that case, please, come with me and I will show you to your quarters." We were moving again. As we walked, the guard (who seemed to be a human) said, "Will you be attending the formal dinner tonight, Visser?"

"No, I think not," she replied. "I am tired. Please give the Emperor my sincere regrets."

"Of course. Here you are." We stopped.

"Thank you."

"Do you require anything?"

"Yes, actually. I need to send messages to several of the other Vissers. How might I do that?"

"Simply prepare a message and I will be pleased to distribute them to whomever you ask."

"Thank you," she said quickly. "But my messages concern very sensitive political matters. I would rather deliver them myself."

"Very understandable, of course. I will bring you a diagram of the Emperor's stronghold, and where each of the Vissers is staying."

Perfect! Rachel gasped.

"Perfect," Visser Forty-one echoed. "You have been extremely helpful. Could you bring me that diagram right away, please?"

"Of course."

We moved a short way, and heard her say, "Guards, stay by the door." When we were inside she whispered, "Apologize to Rachel and Tobias, please. Yeerk guards never stay in the same room as a Visser. It would have looked very strange."

While Cassie relayed the message, we felt the Visser pace.

"Tonight," she whispered. "After the formal dinner. Tonight."

The guard brought the diagram very quickly. We demorphed and remorphed, with Cassie and Prince Jake assuming the role of Hork-Bajir guards this time. The Visser then spent the rest of the time before the dinner personally contacting her supportive Vissers. Each agreed to help her, but every time she told them of our plan, I grew more and more anxious. So many Yeerks now knew who we were and what we were doing; so many of them could betray us.

We demorphed in her room while the rest of the Vissers were attending the dinner. We tried to rest, though none of us could. At last, we heard the sounds of people returning – we would wait another two hours, and then attack.

Visser Forty-one tested the communicator – it worked well. She took the small Shredder she had smuggled inside her clothing bag, and hid it beneath a Yeerk military regulation jacket.

Foolish to allow any clothing that may conceal a weapon, I observed. She ignored me.

So let's go over this one more time, Prince Jake said. The diagram shows that there is an empty room on either side of the Emperor's quarters. Visser Forty-one drops us off in the one to the left, and we remorph into our battle morphs. Meanwhile, she takes out the guards with the Shredder –

Stuns them, added Cassie.

Yes, she stuns them with the Shredder. Then she gets inside and keeps the Emperor occupied until we get there – if he's awake. If he's asleep and doesn't wake up, don't do anything. It'll make our job much easier.

He may be asleep, but he will wake when Jordan enters the room. Bear in mind that the Emperor has an Andalite host. We always sleep with one eye open.

All right, in that case, Visser, you know what to do.

"Yes."

As soon as the rest of us are morphed we'll be in there. Ax, you go after the Emperor and the rest of us will handle any guards he calls.

"And while all this is happening, my allies will be capturing the first four Vissers. If we take out the Emperor and the top four, we're a lot safer."

What about Visser Five and below? Marco asked.

"Most of them are completely spineless and willing to do what they're told. They shouldn't be a problem."

All right, then. Let's do it. Rachel, naturally.

Tobias and Rachel were the Hork-Bajir guards once more, while the rest of us had assumed our fly morphs. I felt Visser Forty-one walk quickly down the hall, making several turns and finally stopping. "Okay, everybody off," she whispered.

Ready, Visser? Marco asked.

"Yes," she said, and I heard her footsteps fade away.

Battle morphs, Prince Jake ordered. I demorphed as quickly as I could. Unlike my friends, my battle morph was my natural form. I would be ready first. With luck, the Emperor would be dead before they were even in the room.

I left the empty room and turned right, where I saw two Hork-Bajir guards slumped, unconscious. The first phase, at least, had gone well.

The door was ajar, and I pushed it open enough to step through. It was then that all my hearts skipped a beat and simultaneously sank.

There were more guards in the room.

Four to be exact. Four guards and an Emperor who was very much awake. Visser Forty-one was collapsed in a corner – dead or unconscious, I did not know.

Well, well, well. What have we here? I see that our friend Visser Forty-one had more than simply political ambitions in mind. The Emperor's voice was cold and deadly. Seize him.

The Hork-Bajir grabbed my arms and sheathed my tail, quickly, and then kicked my legs out from under me. In private thought-speak to my friends I called, Send Cassie and Tobias in first! There are more guards in the room! Cassie and Tobias were to come as Hork-Bajir. I kicked at one of the guards, who dodged my hoof and laughed in his rough, gutteral, Hork-Bajir voice

Beast Elfangor's brother, is it? the Emperor asked, coming to circle around me. How wonderful. Yes, how very lovely. I believe you have made my day . . . Aximili, isn't it? Beast Aximili. He laughed and the Hork-Bajir guards joined him.

Hurry! I called to my friends.

A traitorous Visser and you, all in one night. And before this time tomorrow, Visser Forty-one will be dead and there will be two Andalite hosts in the galaxy . . . of course, before long that won't be anything particularly special.

Suddenly two more Hork-Bajir burst into the room. Hang in there, Ax, Tobias said. I was not sure which one was him.

A bit late, aren't you? the Emperor asked with a sneer. But, take him and that dapsen traitor over there away.

"Yes, Emperor," one of them said, and crossed quickly over to Visser Forty-one. Suddenly, he whipped around, taking out one of the other guards holding me. The other Hork-Bajir aimed a blow at my second captor's head, who had tried to stand too late. There were two heavy thuds.

Andalites! the Emperor screamed. Andalites!

I jerked to my feet and one of my friends unsheathed my tail. Good luck, Ax, Cassie said, as she threw off one of the remaining guards who had attempted to attack her from behind.

I faced the Emperor, and heard the enraged roar of a tiger in the hallway. You are not gloating now, are you, Emperor? I asked as we slowly circled each other. There was a third heavy thud behind me, followed quickly by a fourth one. The Hork-Bajir guards were gone, and Cassie and Tobias hurried to help Prince Jake and Marco.

You will not succeed, he replied. I have many friends in this building. You are stupid to attack now and believe you will survive.

We have them taken care of, I replied. Not all in this building are your allies. We were still circling, watching and waiting for an opening.

A crash in the hallway, and a Hork-Bajir flew into the room, followed by a gorilla. Yo, Emperor! How's it hanging?

He was distracted! I struck, aiming for his neck. He avoided the blow, but just barely. A line of blue-black Andalite blood appeared along his chest.

He retaliated, but I expected it and sidestepped, unhurt. He came at me again, angry now, and soon I was too busy blocking blow after blow to aim one of my own. Finally, he was forced to stop, and I discovered I had a large advantage over the Emperor – youth. My body was younger than his, and thus had more endurance.

It was my turn to attack furiously. I ignored the several shallow cuts on my arms and chest that I had received, and sent blow after blow to his head and neck. Closer, closer! He was weakening, but I was also feeling the strain. More and more lines of blood appeared through his short chest fur, but the neck! The neck was what I needed to hit.

Heavy footsteps behind me warned me that a guard had made it into the room. I had to win this now! Using the flat of my blade, I knocked him down with every ounce of strength I had left in my body. He fell to his knees.

Marco roared behind me and the Hork-Bajir grunted. I never lifted my gaze from the Emperor. He stared at me, boiling with hatred. He could not fight, for he had fallen against the wall. He was cornered, trapped. He would die.

For Elfangor, I whispered.

I aimed the death blow.

My blade connected.

Blood spurted from his neck, and he collapsed. My spirit will seek your death, Andalite! he managed.

And he was dead, lying in a pool of blackening blood.

It was over. My brother was avenged. And I was still alive.

I turned to face Marco. The Emperor is dead, I said, feeling exhaustion in every muscle of my body.

He threw the Hork-Bajir he was fighting against the wall. Congrats, Ax-man. Now let's . . . He stopped, and his eyes widened in horror. Ax, behind you!

Out of one of my stalk eyes, I saw that one of the guards had regained consciousness. I turned, too late to avoid the blow, but it missed its mark – my own neck. Instead, the Hork-Bajir slammed into my back.

I felt an explosion of pain unlike any I had ever felt before, and my legs collapsed.

And then I felt nothing as everything went black.

To be continued . . .