Chapter 2
Toby and I ran through the woods, me as a wolf and Toby as herself. We finally decided that we would bring General Doubleday. We soon made it to a nearby town, and for once I was grateful for the popularity that being an Animorph and world hero brought me. When I asked, nearly everybody in the lobby of the hotel we went into jumped at the chance to drive the world famous Cassie and her Hork-Bajir friend to the nearest city with an airport. Eventually, we made it after sitting in a van for hours with a young couple who kept asking me if I had ever really gotten to know a Yeerk, had liked the battles, or knew what it was like to be a giraffe. I sat just nodding and shaking my head, too caught up in my grief caused by the fact that I may fail and never see Jake again, and by my excitement that I may be able to help my friends. Of course, we had no trouble getting plane tickets either; as much as I hate being a household name, it has its perks. However, some people were a bit nervous about having a Hork-Bajir on the plane with them. Toby and I sat in silence, too lost in our own thoughts to talk. After a few short hours, the plain landed on the runway in California, and we got off of the plane. After that, we went to the station where General Doubleday still lived. General Doubleday helped us in the last few battles, first by supplying us with the explosives needed to destroy the Yeerk pool, later by providing a distraction for the six of us as we made our way through the Pool Ship. I was certain that he would help us.
After I identified myself and stated that I needed to talk to the general, security let me through and led Toby and I to his office, although I remembered where it was and could have managed it myself. He had been speaking on the phone, but as soon as I walked in, he hung up and stood.
"Cassie!" He said with a smile. "What brings you to see an old guy like me?"
"Hello," I said much more seriously. "You remember Toby, don't you?"
"Of course, how could I forget?" He replied. "Hello Toby, how are you?"
"I am well, General Doubleday," Toby answered.
"Well, General," I began. "Ax was captured by the Blade Ship."
"Oh, dear," he said. "What can I do to help?"
I continued. "The Yeerks brought him into a galaxy that Andalites cannot go into. There's some treaty, and no Andalites or Andalite ships can enter this part of space. The same goes for the inhabitants of that galaxy, the Kelbrid. They cannot come into our galaxy. However, the Andalites informed Jake, and told him that there was a newly captured Yeerk ship whose fuel tanks were full in orbit above earth. You see, they couldn't ask Jake to go save Ax, but if Jake just so 'happened' to hear that his friend was in trouble and stole a spaceship to go save him, well, that's his problem, and the Andalites come out with clean hands. Jake brought Marco, Tobias, and possibly some other people to go save Ax. He did not bring me. He just came to ask me where Tobias was. He thought I would know, and he was right. And, after he left, I just had this horrible feeling… I don't know. I felt that I would never see him again. Ever. I have to do something. I am going after him. Toby here will come too. General Doubleday, please. Can you come?"
"Cassie, I am at your service. The people you are going to help are my friends and the people that saved earth, and possibly the entire galaxy, or even the universe from the Yeerk plague. There is no way I could ever repay that debt I owe to the Animorphs because of that, but I can start by helping you. Just tell me what to do."
"Great!" I smiled, the first time since I had talked to Jake. "We will be gone for a long time, possibly forever, you do realize that, don't you?"
"Yes." He said seriously. "Yes, I do understand that. I also know that it is for a more than worthy cause. Just give me a few hours to make some phone calls so things run smoothly while we're gone."
"Thank you."
Only three hours later, we were off. We headed to the military base where Jake had learned about Ax.
