Chapter 12

We waited. The Kelbrid we were after had entered the central tower and had not come back for a while, but we were determined to keep track of him. We had watched him for a time and taken note of distinguishing features, such as the broken silver stripes down his arm that split into three and the two small bald patches on his tail.

The news of the Escafil Device's presence came with a confused reaction. We presumed it to be the very same cube taken by the Yeerks towards the end of the war. Us four original Animorphs fell somewhat silent, recalling past events that had shockingly come back to cause us concern. Menderash was, alternately, in a diabolical, stuttering mess over the situation.

For the moment, we had no concrete plan to retrieve it. That was something for another day, despite Menderash's insistence that it be rescued as soon as possible. Jake shouted him down.

The Kelbrid day was short. Just over sixteen hours, according to Menderash. The Kelbrid sun was setting quickly, and the beams coming down from the central golden pyramid intensified as the angle of contact grew more acute. Soon, though, the light would disappear, leaving the base in sudden darkness. We hoped that he would emerge again before that time.

I had just returned from the alleyway since we had taken turns to remorph to continue the operation. Retaking my place at the southern end, I found an empty building to perch atop. The base's activity was decreasing, and many Kelbrids were leaving through the few entrances, all military clothing abandoned inside or carried in the spherical bags they would often have slung over their shoulders. Still no sign of our guy, though.

((Maybe he lives here,)) Santorelli soon hypothesized.

((It's possible,)) Cassie replied. ((Are we staying till dark, Jake?))

((Yeah. When the light goes, we get back to The Shadow. We'll come back tomorrow. We stay as long as it takes for us to get what we came for.))

That was an unnerving thought, for sure, and everybody fell silent after that. I got the feeling that not everybody felt so dedicated. Myself included.

I wasn't there for some Kelbrid General. I was there for Ax.

We had seen nothing other than barracks and training areas. Jake had already discarded the thought that perhaps The One's central system was housed there. Doubts had grown in my mind that the Visser had told him the truth at all. Jake never talked about what happened in that room, so nobody really had anything to go on.

The sun was clasping the horizon when something finally occurred, just as we were readying to head back to Menderash.

((Is that…? Hey… Hey, guys, I've spotted him!)) Marco alerted. ((He just left the central tower!))

((Seen!)) Santorelli announced.

Jake was quick to issue orders. ((Three sets of eyes on him at all times. We follow, find where he goes.))

I swerved in mid-air and made a direct line for Marco's northerly position. I spotted him and Santorelli in the distance, fluttering innocently like any ordinary kelbirds. When I made some distance, the Kelbrid came into view. I spotted the bald spots of the tail, and that was enough to give him away.

He'd removed all clothing, but a weapon was held snugly around his shoulder with an accompanying spherical bag. He was heading for the northern base entrance.

Keeping enough distance between us, we followed as he left the base to wander into civilian territory. He must have been heading home, and that was perfect for us.

((He's heading for that ship!)) Cassie informed.

A relatively bland, long ship was docked nearby on an open platform. A small leaf-shaped shelter housed three other Kelbrids, but as we watched, they boarded the ship one-by-one.

((Is that what I think it is?)) Marco asked.

((You thinkin' bus stop, too?)) Santorelli replied.

((Yep. Looks like General Kelbrid is catching a bus home.))

We positioned ourselves around the platform and waited as the Kelbrid approached. We expected him to board, just like the others, but he had different ideas.

He walked around the bus and then took a closer look at a collection of symbols on the front. Then, he took his place in the shelter and ignored the ship. It began its ascent with a low hum and set off without him.

((Wrong bus,)) Jake grumbled.

The wait sustained. Even the Kelbrid appeared to be growing impatient, but as the sun was about to dip, another ship turned in our direction. It hovered over the platform and descended, much to the relief of both ourselves and the Kelbrid.

Jake anticipated a difficult flight, and when the Kelbrid boarded, he warned us, ((Be prepared to fly. We don't know how far we're going. Mendy, how long do we have?))

((Jeanne has the shortest morph time remaining, Prince Jake. Fifty-seven Earth minutes,)) he informed through the comms device.

((Let's hope it's enough,)) Jake said.

The ship made regular stops along the way, which came as a great relief considering how much energy we used in trying to keep up. The kelbirds weren't built for speed, and I was dearly missing my own body. The others struggled just as much, if not more, with flying experience variable between us all. Without the ship stopping every couple of miles, we would have been left far, far behind.

The ship breached the city boundaries, and we left behind the dazzling spectacle to swoop straight into another. The hilly landscape that engulfed the city was being visited by the last rays of sunlight, casting great shadows behind them. The contrast against the orange of the rock hills was stunning.

We had thirteen minutes left. Jake was considering splitting the team to allow quick demorphs, but something new appeared over a particularly large hill.

It was something akin to a mansion back on Earth but much more inclined to the usual Kelbrid standard of originality and bewildering design. The black building's main body was shaped almost like the crown of a monarch, dipped in the center with looping spires around the edges. The whole thing was angled into the rocks behind it as if the ground was slowly swallowing it whole. It was adorned with shimmering colors like diamonds in complex patterns.

Walls surrounded it, and the expansive lands looked nearly as secure as the military base. A guard was standing on patrol at the gate, neglecting to look upwards as six small birds approached.

The ship came to a stop on the ground by the wall. Out stepped our Kelbrid friend, exchanging some last pleasantries with the ship's driver, hidden inside. Seemingly in a good mood, he turned to walk away from the bus-ship when it rose from the ground again.

He was welcomed through the main gate by the guard, the field being collapsed to allow him access.

((We don't have much time,)) Jake panted, still exhausted from the travel. ((No doubt this is his place. We need to find somewhere to demorph. Mendy?))

((Yes, Prince Jake?)) he responded over the device.

((We've located his home. Follow device co-ords but keep some distance. I want The Shadows engines to remain on, in case something happens here.))

((I'm on my way, Prince Jake.))

((We going in?)) Marco asked.

((We're going in,)) Jake clarified.