Chapter 4
I didn't know how I expected him to react, but definitely not the way he did. After I explained the plan to him, he laughed, and said that he had wanted to learn about the Kelbrid for a long time. He said he was reckless, and did not even care if he went to Kelbrid space in his own Andalite body with his own Andalite ship. I could not believe our good fortune. He claimed that if a Kelbrid ever asked if he was an Andalite, he could just claim that he was not, since they have no direct knowledge, or he could morph to human until they left. I smiled, feeling more optimistic than I had in the past twenty-four hours, when Jake left. Together, General Doubleday, Yahal-Corass-Jahar, Toby, and I walked towards the docking area. Before coming to the Customs building, Toby, the General, and I had stocked up on enough food and bark to last years. We had no idea how long we would be gone for. Then I realized it. I never said good-bye to my parents. My parents, who put up with me even as I started to act so funny during my secret life as an Animorph. My parents, who helped us overcome obstacles when we took them to become refugees at the free Hork-Bajir camp. My parents, who loved animals as much as I did. My parents, who loved me. My parents, whom I loved. "Oh, my God." I said. "I'll be right back." With my three allies staring after me, I ran back to the main area. I went to one of the security guards, and asked where I could find a phone. He pointed me in the right direction, and I ran as fast as I could. I punched in the number, and heard the phone ringing.
Ringing.
"Please, pick up," I muttered to myself. "Where are you?" The answering machine came on. "Hi Mom, Dad." I started to leave a message, and realized that tears were starting to drip out of my eyes. Why didn't I think of this before? I could have gone to see them when we were talking to General Doubleday. "It's me. I just want to say I love you, and-" My voice cracked. I was really starting to sob now. "And goodbye. I'll miss you."
"Hello?" It was my mom's voice! She must have just walked in, or been asleep, or something.
"Mom? Where's Dad?" I felt so relieved. I would get to say goodbye, after all.
"Honey? What's going on? He's outside..."
"Go get him. Please. I need to tell you something." I heard her put the phone down, and the door slam. A minute later, I heard them both, they had each picked up a different phone.
"Cassie? What happened?" They asked simultaneously.
I started to speak. "I love you both, and I will miss you. I probably won't see you for a long time. Maybe never again. I'm going out into space. Ax was captured by the Blade Ship, and I have to go. I'm leaving in just a few minutes. You can't tell anyone about Ax. It's top secret. I love you guys."
"Cassie!" My father exclaimed. "You can't..."
"I have to. Jake is up there, Dad. He's in trouble. I will need to help them all. I will miss you." I sniffed.
"Cassie, we love you," my mother said. "We will miss you to. And you will come back. We know you will. Look us up when you come back, alright?" She sounded sad. I didn't blame her. Her only child was leaving forever maybe, and only giving a few minutes notice. On the phone, not even in person.
"Alright. I will. I love you. Goodbye." My voice cracked again.
"Bye," My parents said. "We love you."
I hung up. Slowly, with my head held low, I walked back to the docking area. General Doubleday walked to where I was standing.
"Cassie, where did you go? What happened?"
"I called my parents... I had to say goodbye."
His worried expression deepened. "Cassie, I'm sorry..."
"I know." There was an awkward pause. I tried to force my face into a smile. "Well, let's go then, shall we?" He looked at me a moment more, then turned around and walked back to the Jahar II. I followed.
Yahal told the security officers that he was bringing us on his ship as passengers, and eventually we were let through. Yahal showed us where storage was, and helped us pack our belongings and food. Then, he showed us our quarters, the bridge, and the other areas of the ship. Too soon, it was time to lift off. We all stood on the bridge, and watched as Yahal brought us off the ground. I saw the earth, the only home I had ever known, drop away until it was just a big blue ball floating in the blackness of space. I have been in space and on other planets before, but the loneliness and beauty of it always touches me. Now, I was afraid as well; I was more afraid than ever before when in space. This time, I knew that it was very likely I would never return to earth, and even if I died, my remains would not make it back. I looked one last time at the blue seas, brown and green land, and white clouds. I looked at California, my home, and remembered all that had happened there. My life was centralized around that state. And now, I probably would never see it again. I turned around and walked to my cabin. It had been made for an Andalite, so there was not much in the way of a bed, but there was a part of the floor that was padded. I lied down there, and started to drift off to sleep.
Jake was dead. I had seen him fall over the side with the Howler. My life was over. How could we, how could I live without Jake there beside me? I cried. Suddenly, I heard Ax's thoughtspeak.
Prince Jake!
I looked up, and couldn't believe my eyes. Jake was coming towards us. I stood up, and started running towards him, and he ran towards me, and when he got close enough, I jumped into his waiting arms, and he kissed me. Before I knew what was happening, I kissed him back, and felt like my heart was going to explode.
In the background, I heard Rachel grumble. "It's about time," she said.
I just smiled, and kissed Jake some more.
Suddenly, the entire lego land city shook, and Jake and I fell over. The ground shook. I saw Rachel fall over the edge, her arms flailing, her screaming, and Tobias going after her. I saw-
I woke up to a sound that sounded like billions of cannons firing at once into my ear. I ran to the bridge, and saw a fire near the feul tanks go out suddenly; fire can't burn without air.
"What happened?" I screamed. "What is going on?" Yahal was feverishly working the controls, and I saw earth hurtling closer and closer. I screamed.
"A meteor hit us, and the feul tanks exploded! We're going to crash!" Toby yelled back to me. I felt a sharp thud onto the back of my head, and the last thing I saw before blacking out was a humongous space ship lowering down onto earth.
