Chapter 15
Nobody was able to gauge the Kelbrid's reaction. We were all too busy reacting ourselves as the Black Panther finished its morph to Kelbrid. Jeanne didn't seem overly fazed, but everybody else was gawking, not a single set of jaws closed.
Four Humans, two Kelbrids. Fortunately, Jeanne and I had acquired two different Kelbrids, so we weren't spitting images. Not that we were necessarily thinking about that at the time.
"Did she ju-?"
((Do not make this any more suspicious than it already is!)) Jeanne shushed Marco harshly in private thought-speak, cutting him off.
They must have assumed she was up to something. They exchanged glances but retrieved their lower jaws and turned to face the real Kelbrids once more.
The Kelbrid General – or whatever rank he was – didn't appear quite as smug as before. His pupils darted between the lot of us and the hand in which he held the comms device shook. He flashed at one of his comrades. "Veni! Jruip frahgyum eramma!"
"Ludurt frahgyum amnat rewret," the addressed Kelbrid replied calmly.
"Hufrakil hyurn," the Kelbrid General hissed, pointing a shaky finger at the four Humans.
((He says that we are not Andalites. That has upset him.))
It was Jeanne. Though it was good news, her assumedly accurate translation only added to the growing mountain of questions.
The Kelbrid General was growing angrier. So angry that he flung the small comms device across the room. It crashed against the furthest wall. Then he pointed at the Humans again.
"Grum rewret doogri?"
The other Kelbrids had no reply, even though the question was posed to them. They looked just as confused as he did.
((They don't know Humans,)) Jeanne translated again.
((How do you know what they're saying?)) I demanded of her.
((I will tell you later.))
((How can you be sure there'll even be a later?))
Her big Kelbrid mouth exhibited the slightest of smiles. ((I know.))
The Kelbrid's focus switched. Having no idea what the Humans were and knowing that there were presumably no Andalites present, his next priority was the two Kelbrids. He yelled something at us, pointing and gesturing so that Jeanne's translation wouldn't even be required.
Surely, we were seen as traitors. He looked utterly disgusted, and he even flicked some toxic goop at us from his right hand. The Human four jumped and backed away.
He seemed to calm down, uttering some more words before conversing again with his three soldiers.
Jeanne was paying full attention and translated the key points. ((Two traitors and four ugly hairless monstrosities. Perhaps they are from Andalite Space. Never seen anything like them before. Take them to the main base, see if they are still infested, and if not, we will find out where they came from. As for the traitors, take them to the city prison. They will be tried and punished accordingly.))
It could have been much worse. I even breathed the most silent sigh of relief to find out that we seemed to be avoiding the worst-case scenarios. No war. No death.
We had been told that the Kelbrids were a very trustworthy race. Hopefully, that would go hand-in-hand with a merciful justice system.
Before I could bask in my fortuitousness any longer, the General shouted an order, and the three massive barrels were leveled at us once more. Then he pulled his own from over his shoulder, too, pushing the number up to four.
"Vunip! Derri sariyup."
With a zap, the laser grid disappeared from before us, taking us all by surprise. Needless to say, nobody was going to be big and brave enough to charge for an escape. Not even Santorelli.
"Kovvid! Kovvid!" one of the lesser Kelbrids ordered, gesturing at Jeanne and me.
((Walk forward, Tobias,)) Jeanne evenly instructed.
Together we took three paces before being abruptly halted by a raised weapon.
"Vunip! Derri sariyinu!"
A second zap arose from behind us. The laser grid was re-established. We had been separated.
((What's happening?)) I asked her privately. ((Why are they separating us?!))
((Do not panic, Tobias,)) Jeanne said. ((We will be transported to the city. The others will go to the military base.))
((And Mendy?))
((They will search. They will not find. Menderash is not stupid.))
The General distributed orders to his soldiers and gifted us the most disappointed scowl. But his primary attention switched back to our four friends still waiting behind the laser grid.
"Kovvid," one of the other Kelbrids spoke to us. He wanted us to follow. We had little choice but to obey.
The three lower-ranked Kelbrids escorted us through the building, from the darkened room we had been imprisoned in to an area far more brightly lit and decorated. We were taken through halls, down staircases, and over bridge walkways, gaining an undeserved tour of the General's home.
Kelbrid interiors were just as imaginative and unpredictable as the exteriors. Rooms were sparsely decorated with objects and items placed as if to be deemed purposeful but with such extraordinary shapes that those purposes were far beyond my comprehension. I was dazzled, perhaps even awestruck by the inexplicable beauty of the Kelbrid abode.
It was a cruel return to reality when we emerged abruptly into the outside world. We exited the big circular door and felt the cold bury beneath our hair, carried by strong winds that fought to push us back inside.
There was a vessel - one of the egg-shaped military ones - mere meters from the door. They had been called in for an emergency. It was still active, engines humming an eerie pulse, glowing white in the now-settled Kelbrid night.
They led us around to the side where a shallow ramp was lowered. With firm orders, they raised their weapons and walked us inside.
