The Warrior



(Author's note; A sequel to "A Surprise", which follows "An Alternative", which is sort-of a sequel to "The Only Way Out". Might want to read those first...)





A very tight fit, Larynia remarked. Her stalk-eyes swept around in the camo-bug.

"It's built for one human and one Taxxon," Tobias said. "Not three humans and an Andalite."

Of course, Larynia said. It can be made larger. If we clear out the luggage room, and remove the wall between here and there, we will have enough room for everyone.

Tobias shrugged. "Fine. Okay."

Good. Marco?

"You're the one with the tail-blade."

Larynia shot him a cold stare.

Marco threw his hands up. "Okay, okay! Gee! I'll do it. Tobias, Jake? You've got an axe or something?"

Dear, use a shredder.

"Yeah," Marco grabbed at the shredder at his belt. "I knew that."

I'm confident that you did. You just needed someone to remind you. Larynia backed out of the transport. Notify me when you're done. I will go and tell my parents and friends that I will be leaving.

Jake hurried out after her. "Larynia!" he called.

Larynia turned her stalk-eyes to look at him.

"Are you sure what you're getting yourself into?" Jake asked. "This isn't a pleasure trip."

I am aware of that, Larynia said.

"We don't want anyone getting hurt," Jake continued.

I can take care of myself, the Andalite said sharply. Are you under the impression that I can't fight?

Jake realized he was out in on thin ice. "It's just that Andalite females… don't join the army. At least not that I know of."

True, Larynia replied. The War Council's biggest mistake. But I grew up with warriors and arisths all around. I've played tail-fight with my brothers and friends since I could stand. Which is a long time.

"This isn't a game."

No, Larynia agreed. No, it isn't a game. It's dark, cruel, horrid reality.

"Think it over."

Done. I'm coming, my Prince. her eyes smiled. That's what my cousin Aximili called you, isn't it?

Jake rolled his eyes. "Yes. But I never grew used to it."



Jarali watched the group from outside the camo-bug. Marco was standing in the doorway, Larynia by his shoulder.

When will you return? the old War Council member asked.

"I all goes well, we won't return," Marco said. "If things go bad, we won't return either - not without Yeerks."

Then I shall wish you a safe trip and no return, Jarali said. Can you tell me what you will be up to?

"No," Marco said. He grimaced. "My so-called Prince doesn't want me to. Secret mission."

Take care of things here, Jarali, Larynia said. Take care of my family.

I will. I think I'll be able to run things smoothly… though not as smoothly as Marco has.

Marco ran things smoothly because he knew what was needed, Larynia said. So do you. Keep to discipline and a few insults, and things should work out.

"They did for me," Marco said. "Goodbye, old chap."

Goodbye.

The door closed.

"Ready for lift-off," Tobias announced. "Hold on. She's a bit bumpy at the start."

The camo-bug lifted gracefully from the ground. Hovered for a few moments a meter or so up into the air, and then swooped away upwards. Nothing at all near 'bumpy'.

"Marco, take the battle station," Jake said. "In case anyone wants to play with us."

Marco nodded and stepped over to the station. He pressed a few buttons and locked his eyes on the screen.

"Be careful," Tobias warned. "They updated it big-time. Keep it on low settings, cause the high settings will blow us out of the sky as well if not aimed properly."

But they left the atmosphere without being disturbed. There were advantages with having a Yeerk craft. Tobias punched in some coordinates into the computer, and jumped into Z-space.



Now can you tell me what we're doing? Larynia said when they were half-way to Earth. She had taken over controls for the moment, while Tobias was sleeping. I believe I should know. And I think you should tell me.

Marco glanced at Jake. Jake nodded.

"We're on a mission to find something…" Marco began. Then he grinned foolishly. "You'd never guess what. You see, Tobias suddenly had Elfangor's Hirac Delest in his computer, and it told where this thing was, and…"

Jake interrupted. "The Time Matrix."

If Larynia hadn't had four legs, she'd have toppled over. Instead, she turned her entire head and both stalk-eyes towards Jake. Time Matrix?

"We've used it once before," Marco said. "A long time ago. Undid what that Visser Four had messed up. We can use it again. And we will. We can undo it all. Undo the defeat."

Which would leave Earth and the humans free, Larynia said. It's a good plan. Then she quivered. Can you take over here, Prince Jake? I… need to rest.

Jake stood up, walked up to the controls and took over when Larynia stepped away slowly.

Marco watched her anxiously. Larynia had thought about something they had missed. Thought about something she wouldn't want to speak of, by the looks of her. But what?



"I'm taking us out of Z-space now," Tobias announced. "If all goes well, we'll be within sight of Earth."

"That's bad, though, isn't it?" Marco muttered. "I don't want to see Earth. It's bad enough just to know that it's horrible. Bad enough to have seen it once."

But Larynia walked up to stand next to Tobias. She looked out through the glass that covered the camo-bug's entire front, giving maximum view, and aimed all four eyes forwards. Have you set out the coordinates for landing? she asked.

"Yes. Roughly. I don't really know what the terrain is like."

"How about ugly and jagged?" Marco snapped. "Or dried-up and cracked? Unfriendly and dusty?"

"What's up with you, Marco?" Jake sighed. "You've been like this for hours now."

"Oh, nothing," Marco muttered. "Just a little angry about this whole Yeerks-won-the-war-and-ruined-our-planet thing."

"Aren't we all?" Tobias agreed. "I could have managed with them leaving Earth alone." Then he sighed. "There. Out of Z-space. Anyone want to take a look?"

The planet, once blue and white and green and very beautiful, was dark. Rust-red clouds covered many parts of it, and the ground that was visible under them was a sooty black-gray. Even the sea was blackened. It had turned a deep, sickening green colour.

"There!" Marco exclaimed. "There! We've seen it! And it's horrible! Isn't it horrible?"

Yes, Larynia said. Hideous. Ghastly.

Jake swallowed. He focused his eyes on the planet, a mere shadow of what it had been. "We're going in," he decided. "Tobias, take us to the surface."

Marco muttered. He kicked at the controls, only to find that his toes were softer then the cold metal. Then he groaned, and sank down with his back deliberately towards Earth.

Are you okay, Marco? Larynia asked privately.

"No, I'm not okay. Do you think I'm okay?"

No. I think you are unhappy. Larynia folded her legs and lay down clumsily next to where Marco was sitting. She stretched out a hand and touched his cheek. But we are here to change it back to what it was. Remember that.



"Commander! Commander! Yeerk camo-bug approaching!"

Jordan spun around. "They found us? How many?"

"Only one, commander," the boy gasped. He had been running, and was tired.

Jordan began barking out orders. It all came automatically now. She had been leader of the resistance for five years, and it all had become instinctive. "Go alert the guards. Get me the officers. Wake up the Hork-Bajir, their nap is officially over. Get me that fool of an Andalite Prince! Fetch the Chee! What happened to their hologram cover? And take the refugees down into the cave!"

The boy bowed his head, and stormed down into the valley.

"Jordan," Sara said quietly, stroking her weapon nervously. She had never been like Rachel, and never as Jordan. She was calmer. "If they found us, what then?"

"We fight," Jordan replied. Her eyes were scanning the sky feverishly. Camo-bugs were impossible to see on radar or scanners, but with normal eyes you could see flickers of colour where they passed.

"And if they are too many?"

"Then we run. Or die. Whatever comes first."

"You sound so calm," Sara accused.

"It's my job. What else can warriors do? I'm not loosing Earth again."




_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Author's note; Okay, so I'm gonna finish this one without being asked to. I like it... hehe. But review anyway, okay?