The Living Hive is tired of losing its children to the Yeerks, Arbron continued, reassuring Elfangor that the Hive was not his enemy. The Living Hive has long sought a way to destroy the invaders and remove them from this planet. But the Hive could not understand the Yeerks and all their machines. But now… now the Hive has an advisor. Someone who understands Dracon beams and spacecraft, mag-lev trains, and someone who is willing to help the Hive destroy the Yeerks and the traitor Taxxons.
You? Elfangor asked, but he had a feeling he knew the answer to that question.
Arbron laughed mirthlessly.
What other future is there for me? I am a Taxxon now, Elfangor. And now I am planning a surprise attack on a Yeerk spaceport. The Hive will send a thousand of her children with me. I will lead a Taxxon rebellion.
Elfangor stared at his friend, out of words. What was there to say? His hearts felt like some great hand was squeezing them; he couldn't bear to think of how Arbron felt, knowing that he would never be an Andalite again. Arbron shuffled up to him, swaying a bit on his still-shortened legs.
Don't pity me, Elfangor. I'm actually glad I didn't die. Any life is better then none. And no matter how hopeless things seem, there's always meaning and purpose to be found.
And you've found your purpose? Elfangor asked, beginning to smile.
We attack tonight. The Hive is pushing her tunnels closer to the spaceport as we speak. When the time comes, a thousand Taxxons will pour from the ground, surprising the Yeerks and their hosts.
Elfangor tried to imagine that moment, when a thousand huge, hungry Taxxons would erupt from the ground. Taxxons against Hork-Bajir-Controllers and Taxxon-Controllers and Gedd-Controllers. It was not an encouraging thought.
You will lose, Elfangor said, certain that what he said was true.
We know. We know that most of us probably won't survive the attack, but even a Taxxon has the right to resist an invader. Even a Taxxon has the right to control their own planet.
Elfangor was surprised to hear Arbron speaking like that on behalf of the Taxxons. These Taxxons were no less cannibalistic than those at the spaceport, no less savage than those that served the Yeerks. But, if this attack were to succeed, might it not set the Yeerks back? At least somewhat? And could Elfangor refuse to offer what help he could?
Arbron, tell me what I can do to help.
That's the spirit, Elfangor, Arbron said happily. We'll put some tail into these Yeerks yet. We'll be heroes after all. Right?
Elfangor nodded. Right.
Arbron gave Elfangor's shoulder a quick touch, then walked off to begin making plans for the attack.
Time passed slowly for Elfangor, in the stifling darkness of the Taxxon tunnels. He stayed there for the rest of the day. Elfangor hated the stench, but since he didn't know another way to get out of the caverns, he stayed. Elfangor also stayed for Arbron, even though his old friend spent more time communing with the Living Hive than he did talking with Elfangor.
Elfangor knew that they were making plans for the attack tonight. He just wondered if Arbron had told the Hive how hopeless the attack would be. The Yeerks had the advantage of both numbers and weapons, and Taxxons were well known for being incredibly easy to kill.
But it was interesting to see Arbron settling into his new role, the Hive had made him a general. Elfangor could see that the Hive needed him, someone who knew how to deal with the Yeerks' weapons, their ships, and how to coordinate the Taxxons' own lesser forces. He knew how to best damage the Yeerks. Elfangor saw that Arbron enjoyed his new role, in fact he seemed more alive than he had been, even when he was still fully Andalite.
At last, Arbron came back to talk with Elfangor.
Elfangor, there is a problem we have to address before we attack. Alloran and the humans will most likely be at the spaceport when we arrive. You know how Taxxons are; even Taxxon-Controllers will not be able to resist the hunger that much better than we do. No one will be safe, not from our side and not from theirs.
Elfangor nodded, he knew that was true.
What do you want me to do? Elfangor asked.
If you can, find Alloran and the humans. I know it was what you were going to do anyway. But, most importantly, get the Time Matrix safely away from this planet. The Living Hive is no more safe from that machine than any other living creature.
I will take care of the Time Matrix, Elfangor assured him.
You'll need the Jahar, too. I'll help get you to it, Arbron continued.
And then you can come back with me, Elfangor finished.
No. Elfangor I'm not going to go back with you. This is where I belong now. I know we'll lose this battle, but there may be other chances to hurt the Yeerks.
Elfangor nodded, knowing somehow that he would never convince Arbron to come back with him. I - I'll tell your parents what happened -
No! Arbron interrupted, before Elfangor could even finish his sentence. Don't tell them, I don't want them to remember me this way. Tell them I died in battle. Let them remember me the way I used to be.
Arbron… Elfangor trailed off, finding that he had nothing to say.
I have some last minute planning still left to do. We've already put that yellow machine of yours in one of the tunnels, so you'll be able to follow. You'll be going last, once all of our people have been sent. Drive straight down the tunnel. The tunnel is itself part of the Living Hive. It will be able to get you to your destination. One more thing.
Yes?
The spaceport will be in chaos. You won't be able to tell my soldiers apart from the Taxxon-Controllers. So don't hesitate, do what you have to do to survive.
Arbron walked away after delivering that warning. Elfangor saw that the legs that he'd severed were a little more than halfway regenerated, but Elfangor was still able to tell Arbron apart from all the other Taxxons milling around.
Elfangor began to see that the Taxxons were preparing for something, judging by the way they were all starting to move in the same direction. It was like watching an army move into position. In fact, Elfangor soon realized that that was exactly what was happening now: The Taxxon rebel army was preparing to launch.
It was a strange sight to see, that was for sure. The Taxxons would line up in front of the tunnels, the Living Hive would glow a brighter shade of red, and the Taxxons would shove their way into the tunnels, where they were blown at high speed to their destination.
At last, when all the Taxxons had departed, it was Elfangor's turn. He started the Mustang's engine and let it run for a moment. He was not looking forward to this, but he had promised Arbron to fight, so he would have to take this next step. But Elfangor, like any Andalite, hated enclosed spaces.
Maneuvering the Mustang over to the opening of the tunnel, Elfangor watched in surprise as the tunnel widened and flattened out to accommodate the Mustang. Elfangor felt the powerful suction coming from the tube, pulling him into the tunnel. Elfangor accelerated within the tunnel, but there was no feeling of freedom, nor the sense of exhilaration that had accompanied his earlier adventure in the Mustang.
The walls seemed to close in around him, and the only light was from the ones mounted on the Mustang itself. White lights shining ahead, and red lights shining behind. Elfangor had to bend his head, to keep his stalk eyes from being injured.
It was a long time in that tunnel, or at least it seemed that way to Elfangor, since fear came make time seem to stop. Elfangor knew that he was on his way to a massacre, and he didn't like the odds for the Taxxons, but still he drove on. Finally, with a sudden jolt, Elfangor and his Mustang were out of the tunnel.
The car flew into the air after hitting a steep incline, and the engine roared as the wheels spun with nothing under them. The Mustang crashed back to the ground, the hard rubber tires causing the front end to bounce back up once before it was able to rest all four wheels on the Taxxon world's soil. The Mustang ripped into the sandy soil and sped away.
In the intermittent flashes of Dracon beams, Elfangor saw something more horrific than anything else he had seen in this awful day. There were mutilated Taxxon carcasses strewn all over the battlefield, Taxxons were busily devouring the dead. Whether they were Arbron's Taxxons or Taxxon-Controllers, Elfangor didn't know, either side looked the same.
Out of seemingly nowhere, a Taxxon leapt directly into Elfangor's path. Flesh against metal, and Taxxon flesh gave way to impact more easily than any other kind Elfangor knew of. The Taxxon's body tore completely open, sending its organs scattering in almost all directions. Elfangor screamed at the sheer horror of it all.
But that was only small sample of the horrors that lay ahead.
Taxxons were screaming, though whether in pain or delight Elfangor would never be sure. Hork-Bajir fought the flailing Taxxons, sometimes without resorting to using the Dracon beams they had belted at their waists. It was not something Elfangor ever wanted to see again.
Elfangor could see that the battle had been raging for some time by now, though he didn't know how long, his inner awareness of time notwithstanding. Elfangor wondered how he was ever supposed to find the humans in this madness, when he himself could barely think. A particularly large Hork-Bajir spotted him then, turning and running as if to cut him off from the Taxxon army.
Only when it got a good look at him did the Controller shout "Andalite!" Elfangor turned and rammed the Hork-Bajir in the legs, sending him rolling and tumbling over the top of the car. More Controllers tried to stop him, Elfangor ran some down with the Mustang, and a few others had the sense to stay away after that.