Chapter 2

We descended upon the Makroovi capital. It was a discordant web of low-lying blue buildings and open platforms just like the dwelling we had visited previously. The blue buildings looked strangely sturdy and comfortable on the loose, rocky ground. Through The Shadow's visual sensors, we could see Mak filing in and out, going about their business just as any Earthly city inhabitants would.

The Mak also filled the platform-dwellings, each circled by massive spires that held a large, lumpy sheet between them. The sheets shielded the ground, protecting its inhabitants from the fierce heat of the planet's sun.

"It's busy," Cassie noted. She was closest to the projector screen at the rear of the bridge.

"Even in this temperature?!" Marco replied, astounded. "It's a-hundred-and-ten degrees out there!"

Menderash, still guiding The Shadow towards the outskirts of the city, explained further. "We're approaching midday for this particular latitude. From the information I've managed to gather, this is likely to be the middle of the Makroovi Winter."

"Some winter!" Santorelli commented with an impressed grin. "The place is hotter than Scarlett Johansson in a two-piece."

"You mean it gets hotter?!" Marco asked incredulously.

Menderash replied, "not quite hot enough to boil water, but it may get close at the hottest parts of the Makroovi year."

"That's reassuring…" Cassie muttered.

"If we're in Mak morph, we should be fine with the heat," Jake spoke up. "Their bodies will be used to it."

We had all gathered onto the bridge in preparation for landing. The Shadow's speed was decreasing as the city grew closer. Our focus switched from the computerized images of the location to the actual view when it became visible on the horizon.

"Prince Jake," Menderash said. "Approaching the capital. I suggest that we moor at a reasonable distance and move in on foot."

"Stop us here," Jake agreed.

Menderash was instant in his reactions, spreading his arms to tap and turn various controls splayed beneath the bridge view. With the usual cacophony of rattles and rumbles, The Shadow decelerated, shook, and came to a halt. We were about a hundred feet up in the air, but Menderash began to guide us carefully to the ground.

"Prince Jake, I would suggest powering off as soon as we are able. There may be technology out there capable of picking up our power signals."

Jake nodded very slowly. He folded his arms across his chest as he gazed over the Makroovi landscape. "How fast could you get this thing off the ground in an emergency?"

"Approximately forty-three seconds."

Jake turned away from the view and towards the rest of us. It was time to develop a plan of action, and I was already anticipating my role.

"We don't need to be here long," Jake began. "We're going to look around, find out what we can. Hopefully, we can find out some info on the Kelbrids or Kyritlyp."

"And find out if the Yeerks are still here," Cassie added.

"I'd put money on yes," Marco said. "Been so long since I've seen those guys. I've started to really miss them, you know?"

Jeanne asked, "We are all going as Mak?"

"Yeah," Jake responded. "We shouldn't be too suspicious. Mak emerging from a Mak craft. We still need to be as inconspicuous as possible."

I noticed Jeanne's eager grin. "Good."

Jake continued. "Mendy's going to stay back and keep in contact. He has some knowledge of the Mak language and symbolism."

"Limited," Menderash clarified. "But it should be enough."

Jake reached behind the control panel and pulled up a device. It looked almost like a black wristwatch, but its main body was no longer than about two centimeters across. "This is what we're going to use to keep in touch with Mendy. It's a Mak long-range comms band, fitted with some extra Andalite technology."

"Are we stickin' or dispersin' out there?" Santorelli questioned.

"We'll separate but keep within close proximity. And we'll establish a meeting place."

((I'm sure I can keep my eyes on five Mak,)) I said.

"No," Jake replied. "You're on the ground with us."

"No lookout?" Marco asked, perplexed. "Seems a bit risky."

Jake had been thinking things through. "We don't want anything to be out of place. I want the least amount of risk possible because we have no idea what's out there. Having a hawk flying around might raise eyebrows. Besides, Mendy will act as our main lookout, and we'll be in constant contact."

In a way, I was happy. I had expected another lookout mission, fulfilling my usual duty. There was something else, too, that made me feel that much more positive.

"All Andalite technology has been shut down, Prince Jake," Menderash stated loudly. "From the outside, and by any primitive sensor, we are little more than a rusty old Mak vessel."

"Well," Jake hummed, raising his arms to open the floor. "If there are no objections…"

"Ready and willin', boss!" Santorelli roared. He stood proud on his spot at the back of the bridge, and we watched on as the changes began.

Being a tall guy, Santorelli was due to shrink. It was the first noticeable change to occur, but at the same time, other parts of the morph commenced. His skin began to darken, and the texture changed to the rougher epidermis of the Mak. His eyes grew wider and moved closer to the sides of his face.

Then the others followed suit, and with an unrestricted curiosity, they took their time with their morphs. I was the awkward bird in the center yet to begin. As soon as I realized that, I started, too.

I wasn't as skilled as the others. Cassie had always held a natural gift with the morphing technology, so by this point it was artistic and verging on magnificence. Jake had become a morphing tutor, and so did it professionally, and he had personally taught Santorelli and Jeanne to a high standard. Marco… Well, maybe he was at my level. He had clearly taken the previous years as retirement.

He'd been having issues that were quickly becoming apparent. Something was not right with him, so no doubt Jake would team him up with somebody. Perhaps Santorelli, who seemed more than capable of making quick decisions.

Then there was me. Had I morphed much recently? Had I practiced just like the others? Had I honed my skills in anticipation of such a scenario?

In some ways, I had. I had tried all sorts, but it was never in an attempt to improve. It was change for change's sake.

And now I was to become something new. The Mak weren't overly strange in their appearance (after having seen some pretty freaky stuff in the past), but it was enough of a change to bring a few surprises. I instantly felt my insides churning, like my organs were shifting positions in a way that they had never done before. My torso shriveled, almost like some of those organs simply dissolved, leaving an empty vacuum that sucked my flesh inwards.

My back extended out to form the slender Mak tail. The tail feathers remained but were spread thin before creeping back hurriedly into my body. The prickly, cracking sounds of that and other activities combined into one loud drone of unpleasant.

Facial features shifted. Hard beak became rounded snout with rows of pointy, evenly-spaced teeth. The tongue thickened in my mouth, and there was a horrible aching as my throat made room for sizeable vocal apparatus. Above all that, my eyes and nostrils grew to the exaggerated sizes found on the typical Mak.

Everybody else was close to finishing. Almost-Maks surrounded me, stretching arms and jaws, clutching fingers, and testing the voice. I was the last to complete, finally coming to the end of the morph as the last of my feathers withered away like snails retreating into their shells.

The Mak mind was churning away beside my own. It was calm and comfortable in the claustrophobic innards of the vessel. The red and orange colors suddenly seemed very soothing. The Shadow instantly made more sense.

((Not bad,)) Santorelli commented.

((It's hardly going to win any outstanding alien awards,)) Marco replied, gawking at his clawed hands. ((But it's fine.))

"Ri ri kit!" Cassie said with her new mouth. Needless to say, it would take some getting used to. She repeated herself in thought-speak. ((I like it. The Mak feels really calm. Peaceful, even.))

Jake felt the need to extend a point on that. ((Maybe so, but let's not take this as an easy trip. We don't know how these Mak act in the open.))

"They are relatively peaceful creatures," Menderash said, still watching us from the luxury of his seat. "It's not the Mak we should be concerned about."

Jake retook the communication device and placed it around his wrist. He fiddled around with it and then lifted it. He spoke in thought-speak, and the added Andalite technology sent the words straight to the ship's bridge computer system.

His voice echoed around us. "Testing, testing. Yep, seems to be working."

((So we're all set?)) Marco asked.

We all said yes. After some final instructions from Menderash on comms range and escape plans, we left him on the bridge and made our way to the middle of the ship as six brand new Mak.

I tested the body, the way it moved and the way it thought. Cassie was right in that it was peaceful, too content with its surroundings to worry.

It was a peace like the one that I wanted. A peace that I had forgotten.

I lifted my head. I had drifted back and away from the others. I jogged on clumsy, unfamiliar legs to catch up.