Chapter 12
When I awoke I saw Chessi and her youngest daughter, Cawriana standing over me.
Cawriana looked more like her mother rather than her father. She also had the lion shape, but without the mane. Her tail was more like Marcax's, however, and she had a horn coming out of her nose bridge that looked like her father's also. Leathery wings were attached to her back instead of her arms. I was later told she specialized in healing.
They helped me up, most of them nodded for my benefit.
It didn't take me long to think of why, Ralimn had probably told them about my brother and family.
That was all the privacy of my old life I had had left, now I had none.
They didn't waste a lot of time worrying about me, in a few minutes they began talking again.
"Your ship is sorely maimed as of this moment," Marcax said. "I apologize. Our ship, though it had been hit by your sharpshooter, did not gain much damage because of the size and shields.
"Our shields were slightly penetrated, but with our technology they will be repaired within the next hour. It will take much longer, however, to rectify your ship. Therefore, we shall take your ship on board our own and repair it. As we do, we shall continue your mission along with you."
I give you great thanks. However, it is not necessary to-
"It is highly necessary," Marcax interrupted both Ralimn and Evaren who had spoken in unison. "We put your mission at stake, we shall destake it. It is of no use to argue. As my friends and family know, there is no use in arguing points with a Devilian."
Ajax and I turned our stalks around the room, watching the other creatures. They nodded their consent.
Evaren and Ralimn gave up. And thus came the new plans.
Evaren would report back to Leera using the telecommunications system aboard the new ship, which would be our new home for a while. He would give them our status and a report.
We would continue on our mission with the assistance of our new additional crew. Marcax's eldest son, Kacran, told us the Shorm probably wouldn't be fixed until right before we reached or found the new homeworld of the rebel Yeerks and Metropids.
So we began along our way once more.
The Shorm's crew would be able to rest in the recuperation room. Marcax, Chessi, and Kacran ran most of the ship, with Jamani taking care of the engines.
Not many of our crew wanted to rest, though. In thanks for repairing our ship most of the crew decided to help with the tasks.
Zachary and Jennifer went down to the engine room, Evaren and Ralimn talked with Chessi. Kelt did decide to go to the Recoop Room, along with Ajax. I just stood off to the side and out of the way with Klift, the male Monkake, who was perhaps half a year younger than myself.
Soon Evaren went over to the back wall. It was opaque. I knew now that Marcax had a right to boast about technological advances - the wall could be used for both a viewscreen and a telecommunicator. We Andalites had not yet made two things out of one - I'm not sure the people care anyway.
Soon I saw an Andalite face appear on the screen.
Patelli-Lrims-Oplkin.
Who is this? The signal is strange and unidentified. Recognize yourselves.
This is Evaren-Illimad-Licturn, Captain of the Shorm. I must speak with Prince Galuit-Enilon-Esgarrouth.
Patelli nodded, watching Evaren with his main eyes closely. His stalk eyes roamed the ship, untrusting. Very well, he said.
The screen changed and I immediately recognized Galuit's face. He was surprised.
Captain Evaren?! Report.
Evaren nodded casually. This was no big thing.
Our ship was attacked for a few minutes, and the systems were knocked offline. We are aboard the ship who fired at us-
You are prisoners, then?
No. No, sir, far from it. We are aboard the ship- Evaren looked over to Chessi.
"Vengeance."
Aboard the Vengeance with our new found allies, Marcax the Devilian, Chessi the Chesgant, their four children: Kacran, Jamani, Rafax, and Cawri the Devigants; and Neslixi, Mazi, Qyn, and Klift the Monkakes. Though our ship is down, we will be repairing it as the Vengeance goes deeper into space, toward our goal. We have gained much knowledge, and have recovered two legends. Alive. Marco and Tobias.
This news made Galuit twitch nervously. You have recovered them, alive?
Yes sir! Evaren said proudly.
Galuit nodded. Good job, Captain. Though, it is with heavy hearts I must tell you two choices. You may either continue this suicidal mission, or report back to the Andalite homeworld.
Evaren blinked, If we return home, our mission won't be completed. What will happen then?
"What will happen is you'll be tried for treason," Marco said, with a harsh look to Galuit. "They weren't supposed to survive, were they? Weren't even supposed to have gotten this far. When I met you back, well, back 'then', I knew you were a responsible guy, Galuit. Why this?"
I couldn't take my main eyes from Marco, nor my stalks from Galuit. I had always been told by Alloran that Marco had been the best at tactics and from point to point. I believed my prince now. Galuit had always been a respected leader. But now...
How could anyone respect a leader that had sentenced them to almost certain death either way?
Why? Marco, why? Because, these people would have ruined the future. Ruined the possibilities. They would have made Andalite-Human relations drop.
"How?"
Alloran and the Aristh Yaolyn had already known that you had not been heard from in years, which was odd enough. Then, upon hearing about a ship stolen? They would have figured it out in no time. The two humans, before aquiring their new jobs were invovled with the American FBI. Ajax and Ralimn knew each other and conversed regularly about the years during the wars. Suspicion grew.
"What about the Hork-Bajir?"
Kelt Mahet is a Seer, she would have figured it out eventually and have been a future problem.
"So you sentenced them to die either out here or back on Leera without actually telling them," Marco wasn't asking now, he was telling what he knew would be true.
Yes. The High Command agreed.
"Yeah, well, look here Galuit. We're not leaving back for Leera or Earth until we have the others, alive or dead." Marco looked to Evaren.
Correct. We will continue the mission. We will die later.
So be it, Evaren. So be it. Once you re-enter Andalite Space, however, you will be set upon by dozens of fighters on alert. I wish you luck, nonetheless. End transmission.
And then Galuit was gone.
When I awoke I saw Chessi and her youngest daughter, Cawriana standing over me.
Cawriana looked more like her mother rather than her father. She also had the lion shape, but without the mane. Her tail was more like Marcax's, however, and she had a horn coming out of her nose bridge that looked like her father's also. Leathery wings were attached to her back instead of her arms. I was later told she specialized in healing.
They helped me up, most of them nodded for my benefit.
It didn't take me long to think of why, Ralimn had probably told them about my brother and family.
That was all the privacy of my old life I had had left, now I had none.
They didn't waste a lot of time worrying about me, in a few minutes they began talking again.
"Your ship is sorely maimed as of this moment," Marcax said. "I apologize. Our ship, though it had been hit by your sharpshooter, did not gain much damage because of the size and shields.
"Our shields were slightly penetrated, but with our technology they will be repaired within the next hour. It will take much longer, however, to rectify your ship. Therefore, we shall take your ship on board our own and repair it. As we do, we shall continue your mission along with you."
I give you great thanks. However, it is not necessary to-
"It is highly necessary," Marcax interrupted both Ralimn and Evaren who had spoken in unison. "We put your mission at stake, we shall destake it. It is of no use to argue. As my friends and family know, there is no use in arguing points with a Devilian."
Ajax and I turned our stalks around the room, watching the other creatures. They nodded their consent.
Evaren and Ralimn gave up. And thus came the new plans.
Evaren would report back to Leera using the telecommunications system aboard the new ship, which would be our new home for a while. He would give them our status and a report.
We would continue on our mission with the assistance of our new additional crew. Marcax's eldest son, Kacran, told us the Shorm probably wouldn't be fixed until right before we reached or found the new homeworld of the rebel Yeerks and Metropids.
So we began along our way once more.
The Shorm's crew would be able to rest in the recuperation room. Marcax, Chessi, and Kacran ran most of the ship, with Jamani taking care of the engines.
Not many of our crew wanted to rest, though. In thanks for repairing our ship most of the crew decided to help with the tasks.
Zachary and Jennifer went down to the engine room, Evaren and Ralimn talked with Chessi. Kelt did decide to go to the Recoop Room, along with Ajax. I just stood off to the side and out of the way with Klift, the male Monkake, who was perhaps half a year younger than myself.
Soon Evaren went over to the back wall. It was opaque. I knew now that Marcax had a right to boast about technological advances - the wall could be used for both a viewscreen and a telecommunicator. We Andalites had not yet made two things out of one - I'm not sure the people care anyway.
Soon I saw an Andalite face appear on the screen.
Patelli-Lrims-Oplkin.
Who is this? The signal is strange and unidentified. Recognize yourselves.
This is Evaren-Illimad-Licturn, Captain of the Shorm. I must speak with Prince Galuit-Enilon-Esgarrouth.
Patelli nodded, watching Evaren with his main eyes closely. His stalk eyes roamed the ship, untrusting. Very well, he said.
The screen changed and I immediately recognized Galuit's face. He was surprised.
Captain Evaren?! Report.
Evaren nodded casually. This was no big thing.
Our ship was attacked for a few minutes, and the systems were knocked offline. We are aboard the ship who fired at us-
You are prisoners, then?
No. No, sir, far from it. We are aboard the ship- Evaren looked over to Chessi.
"Vengeance."
Aboard the Vengeance with our new found allies, Marcax the Devilian, Chessi the Chesgant, their four children: Kacran, Jamani, Rafax, and Cawri the Devigants; and Neslixi, Mazi, Qyn, and Klift the Monkakes. Though our ship is down, we will be repairing it as the Vengeance goes deeper into space, toward our goal. We have gained much knowledge, and have recovered two legends. Alive. Marco and Tobias.
This news made Galuit twitch nervously. You have recovered them, alive?
Yes sir! Evaren said proudly.
Galuit nodded. Good job, Captain. Though, it is with heavy hearts I must tell you two choices. You may either continue this suicidal mission, or report back to the Andalite homeworld.
Evaren blinked, If we return home, our mission won't be completed. What will happen then?
"What will happen is you'll be tried for treason," Marco said, with a harsh look to Galuit. "They weren't supposed to survive, were they? Weren't even supposed to have gotten this far. When I met you back, well, back 'then', I knew you were a responsible guy, Galuit. Why this?"
I couldn't take my main eyes from Marco, nor my stalks from Galuit. I had always been told by Alloran that Marco had been the best at tactics and from point to point. I believed my prince now. Galuit had always been a respected leader. But now...
How could anyone respect a leader that had sentenced them to almost certain death either way?
Why? Marco, why? Because, these people would have ruined the future. Ruined the possibilities. They would have made Andalite-Human relations drop.
"How?"
Alloran and the Aristh Yaolyn had already known that you had not been heard from in years, which was odd enough. Then, upon hearing about a ship stolen? They would have figured it out in no time. The two humans, before aquiring their new jobs were invovled with the American FBI. Ajax and Ralimn knew each other and conversed regularly about the years during the wars. Suspicion grew.
"What about the Hork-Bajir?"
Kelt Mahet is a Seer, she would have figured it out eventually and have been a future problem.
"So you sentenced them to die either out here or back on Leera without actually telling them," Marco wasn't asking now, he was telling what he knew would be true.
Yes. The High Command agreed.
"Yeah, well, look here Galuit. We're not leaving back for Leera or Earth until we have the others, alive or dead." Marco looked to Evaren.
Correct. We will continue the mission. We will die later.
So be it, Evaren. So be it. Once you re-enter Andalite Space, however, you will be set upon by dozens of fighters on alert. I wish you luck, nonetheless. End transmission.
And then Galuit was gone.