Chapter 20
I flew so high that I could barely see the ground. I hoped that the height would diminish the glow of the cube, but it probably looked like a shooting star whizzing over the Kelbrid landscape as I clutched it like a prize kill beneath my wings.
All was quiet for some time as I continued on my estimated path to our pre-planned destination. When a roar erupted from behind me, and the lights of a ship blurred through the cloud, I zoomed higher up before the behemoth vessel could trap me in the gusts it would influence. The Kelbrid ship steamed ahead, causing an updraft of hot air as it shifted like a ghost to the meeting point, haunting white lights the only presence to remain as it persisted through the fog. I increased my pace to follow, a struggle in my fatigued state.
I started to catch up, even though I had stopped accelerating. The ship was slowing, and it dipped towards the ground. I continued on my path, keeping sufficient height to avoid detection.
When I saw the faintest orange glow, I descended. The Shadow's lighting wasn't particularly bright, but it still pierced the thick fog that had collected between the two hills of the meeting point. Menderash had landed our ship but lit all beacons to the oncoming Kelbrids. And myself.
((Mendy! I'm coming down! I have the cube!))
((Main hatch open. I have prepared the chamber,)) he responded.
I stopped flapping my wings and adjusted my angle to aim for the main hatch on the side of the ship. The combination of fog and the night's darkness made it a challenge, but the light of The Shadow guided my way. I located the hatch, decelerated, and landed on flat metal flooring.
Menderash's footsteps greeted me. I released the cube on the ground, and he reached down to take it.
((Did you set off any alarms?)) he asked through thought speak.
((The Kelbrids are on their way. I think any alarm would have delayed them.))
((How close are they?))
((They just landed,)) I informed, preparing to fly again. ((I need to go. Stay safe.))
He nodded. ((You too, Tobias.))
I shot back out of the hatch and into the fog. All I had to do now was find the Kelbrid vessel. It wouldn't be hard. I noticed the patterned lines of white light that marked it out through the dense air, and the noise crackled the atmosphere as its engines powered down. I needed to find the right place to morph.
As the Kelbrids settled, I drifted away to the side, finding a comfortable spot hidden away from the ship. There, I started the next morph, despite my body's protests. It was slow, and the paranoia of being spotted clouded my head.
But I emerged from my hiding spot as a full Kelbrid, discovering how the eyesight struggled in the night. I could hardly see, surrounded by darkness.
However, the Kelbrids were prepared for such an issue. From their ship came a bright yellow gleam, illuminating the area around the ship and the near-side of The Shadow, which looked clunky and worn against the sleek Kelbrid design. Between, the platoon of Kelbrid soldiers had formed, the General warily pacing up and down them.
((Tobias?)) I heard. It was Jeanne's voice. ((Are you here?))
I was shocked but relieved to hear it. ((Yeah! I'm here. I'm a little way behind the Kelbrid ship. I can see them.))
In the light, I saw the four Humans being escorted out, six Kelbrid soldiers behind them. They didn't resist, nor did they observe their surroundings or utter a word. As they were stopped before the General, the mustered soldiers dispersed.
((Guide me, Tobias,)) Jeanne spoke. ((I will sneeze.))
I concentrated on the dispersing Kelbrids. One of them stopped, placed a hand to its face, and seemed to sneeze.
((Turn left,)) I aided. ((A little more… little more… There, I'm straight ahead of you.))
She headed my way, strutting like a confident soldier. I remained hidden in the dip I sat in but waved her over when she was close enough to notice. She stopped before me and glanced around for security.
((I am happy you're here,)) she said. ((Do you have a plan?))
((It looks like you're the one with the plan…)) I murmured.
I could not see her face in the shadows, but I knew she was smiling. She took her hands away from the weapon she held and rustled through a bag clipped to a belt around her waist. She threw some contents down at me. ((Put this on. You will look like another soldier. I will get a weapon from the ship for you.))
She left, back to the ship, leaving me to get into the minimal military uniform she had dropped down, including the single-triangle cloth that I strung around my neck and a utility belt that all the other soldiers wore.
Jeanne returned quickly, and I was armed with my own Kelbrid weapon.
((I was hoping you would show up,)) I told her as we emerged from our hole. ((It will make things a lot simpler.))
((Tell me what is happening.))
We stopped in our spots, posing as sentries on the edge of the lit area, watching as the General eyed up our ship. ((They'll show the General around the ship. We'll follow. I will remain on the bridge and take control. Menderash will tell me when to power up and close the hatches. I trust him to get the timing right…))
She huffed. ((You had a role for me?))
((Yeah, but I didn't know you would be here. Now that you are… You will pose as a guard. When the time is right, you will take out the General and separate him into the ship.))
((I am not good at fighting,)) she insisted. ((I can control the ship better than you can.))
I sighed inwardly. ((Okay. Then we swap roles. Keep in contact with Menderash and me, and hopefully, we'll get off this planet in one piece.))
The General began to mobilize, and so did we. He gathered together four of his soldiers, and we made a point to volunteer ourselves as well. We took control of the Humans as we walked towards The Shadow.
Jeanne and I informed them that we'd infiltrated the Kelbrid group. We told them to play along.
But we stayed behind the other Kelbrids. We were fully aware that I might not be recognized, and the suspicions that could arise from that could be disastrous. Thankfully, with the light of the Kelbrid ship behind us, my face fell to the shadows and the fog.
On the other hand, Jeanne had acquired the DNA of a brand new Kelbrid. She had little problem blending in.
Menderash appeared in the hatch, hands aloft to display his surrender as the General ascended the ramp. Without physical contact, two of the soldiers searched him and then relegated him to the other Humans. Together, the party boarded the cramped ship.
The Kelbrids had seen Mak ships before and had no issue in finding their way to essential sections. They inspected, took notes and images. Eventually, they grew impatient, finding little of the Andalite technology they had been promised. Menderash was cunningly guiding them to various Andalite appliances that were of little use in war-fighting or science. The General became especially irate when he was introduced to a machine that cleaned grass to an edible standard. He yelled at Menderash for a while.
However, he was eager to continue, and eventually, we wandered onto the ship's bridge. Again, Menderash had thought ahead, restricting what the General could find.
They moved on quickly to the engine rooms. Jeanne stayed behind on the bridge, as well as another Kelbrid soldier. According to Jeanne, as we were leaving, that soldier was tasked with inspecting the ship's controls and was sifting through all the available systems as she watched.
Thirty seconds later, that changed.
((I have knocked him down,)) she informed Menderash and me.
((You should have waited!)) Menderash scolded. ((The other Kelbrids might notice!))
((He was finding more than I am comfortable with,)) she defended. ((He was close to disabling the ship. Don't worry; I have stored him somewhere hidden.))
Menderash let it slide. A disabled ship was useless to us. We needed to be ready to go.
The General grew angrier and angrier, and by the time we had arrived back at the main ship hatch, he was close to physical attack. He restrained himself, especially around my vulnerable friends, who had remained calm and polite throughout. Menderash had hidden things very well, but it was on the verge of backfire.
It could work in our favor. The General was off guard, not as alert as perhaps he should have been, and that was transferring down to his soldiers, who had grown reluctant and distant.
In fact, that was perfect. I just had to wait for the right moment.
((Jeanne, are you ready? We're by the hatch.))
((I am ready,)) she replied. ((I can close the hatch in an instant and start the engines.))
I stood back and watched. My colleagues were being held back from the hatch against the wall, watched over by two of his soldiers. The General was giving an emotional brief to another four, just on the edge of the ramp. With the scene ingrained, I moved between the two guards on watch and copied their posture. As far as they knew, I was one of them.
((Mendy, you give me the signal,)) I requested.
((Not yet,)) he replied, standing quietly between Cassie and Santorelli.
I noticed that Marco was shivering. His eyes were closed, and Jake frequently looked him over. I could sense that he was on the brink of another episode. Hopefully, he could hold out for just a little longer.
Menderash reported. ((He is pointing back to the Kelbrid ship… Now he's looking at us… Now back at them.))
I tightened my hands on my weapon, feeling its weight and calculating its swing. I glanced left and right to the stern-looking soldiers that were focused entirely on the Humans.
((He's sending them!)) Menderash alerted. ((Go! Close the hatch!))
A metallic clunk spooked the two soldiers, an indelicate whirring indicating the rapid rising of the hatch door. I pulled air into my tired lungs and span left. The momentum carried my golden weapon as I held it out, and it caught the first soldier hard in the face. He collapsed back in a bloodied heap.
I continued my spin and grappled my weapon in hand again. The second soldier was caught in numerous minds and seemed entirely uncertain of what was happening. I wouldn't allow him time to consider. I swung my weapon the other way and slapped him roughly over the side of the head. He slammed against the far wall as he stumbled and joined his comrade, unconscious on the ground.
"Viki ranfur! Viki ranfur!" I heard the General scream. The sudden change in the situation became apparent, but the hatch was too fast to close to permit his escape. Without a weapon of his own, he was defenseless.
Or so it appeared. When he started to rush Menderash, I recalled the vicious toxin. I had to intercede.
Amidst the calls and screams from the ship's exterior and the rattle of The Shadow as Jeanne powered the beast up, I could barely hear myself as I rushed to intercept.
I hit him before he could spread his poison, catching him haphazardly in the side to send us both to the floor in a tangled mess. He screamed, called for help, and resisted all the while as I attempted to gain control.
((Get out of here!)) I demanded of the others. ((Don't let either of us touch you!))
I couldn't hear their footsteps as they left. I assumed they had. The incredible hum as The Shadow lifted from the ground took over every sense as our tussle continued.
I tried to hit him with the weapon, but he was holding it down, wise to its decisiveness. He walloped me around the face, untangling me from the pile and sending me backward. He tugged me back with the weapon strap and hit me again. Dazed and too exhausted to continue, I felt the fight slipping from me. My attempts to return fire were weak and inaccurate.
He snapped the weapon strap with a forceful yank and used the butt of the gun to whack me back to the floor. I groaned and felt the blood trickle down my cheek.
He grinned a bloody grin and stood tall…
Clang!
A thick pipe came down from above and crashed onto the General's head. His eyes span, his posture faltered, and his hands fell from the weapon he'd taken from me. When all balance left, he dropped forward, landing heavily onto my aching body, revealing an adrenaline-radiating Santorelli standing behind, improvised pipe weapon in hand.
