Elfangor could at last see his goal, so different from the ugly Yeerk ships clustered around it. The Jahar stood apart, removed from the slaughter around it simply by being above it. Elfangor could see two shapes on the boarding ramp.
Two shapes that were different from any host the Yeerks possessed. They were bipeds like the Hork-Bajir, but they did not have any of the natural weapons that made the Hork-Bajir so formidable. They also somehow managed to stay upright without a tail to balance them.
Crowded around the ship cradle was a writhing mass of Taxxons, perhaps a hundred or more. They were all trying to go up the boarding ramp, but thankfully most of them were shoving the others out of the way in their frenzy. A lone Taxxon already stood at the top of the ramp, but this one was trying to keep his brother and sister Taxxons off of the ramp. Elfangor had a feeling that he knew this particular Taxxon's name.
Arbron!
Elfangor plowed into the Taxxons, using the Mustang's front end the same way he had during most of the battle. Some Taxxons were crushed and splattered by the wheels, and Elfangor didn't look back, since he knew what he would see if he did.
Elfangor! I can't hold them back for much longer! Arbron sounded frantic.
Arbron, are these Taxxon-Controllers or are they more of your soldiers? Elfangor asked, not wanting to kill more of those on his side.
It doesn't matter now! There's no difference anymore, don't you see?! Blood has been spilled! You know what the hunger is like! Stop me Elfangor! Please!
With those last words, Arbron turned and raced up the ramp. Heading for Chapman and Loren, slavering mouth gaping open, ready to sink his teeth into one of them. Elfangor couldn't get to him without abandoning the Mustang, so that was just what he did. Leaping out of the car, Elfangor raised his tail and readied himself for battle.
The Taxxons tried to get in his way, but Elfangor cut them down and pushed them aside with quick swipes of his tail. He looked to where Arbron was, still on the ramp. He had apparently singled out Chapman as his next meal, and however much Elfangor did not like that particular human, his sense of morality would not let Elfangor leave him to be eaten by a Taxxon.
Elfangor leapt over the last Taxxon standing in his way, landing lightly on the boarding ramp.
Arbron stop! Don't do this! You have to fight it! Arbron, listen to me!
Arbron reared backward, preparing to stun Chapman by body-slamming him against the ramp. It was as if he hadn't even heard Elfangor.
Arbron, stop it now! I know you, you aren't like this! Arbron, listen!
That seemed to get through to him, because he hesitated but remained poised over Chapman. Chapman himself was scrambling backward, not unlike a crab. His lips were drawn back in a terrified grin. At that moment, Elfangor saw something worse than Taxxons. A thousand times worse.
Hork-Bajir-Controllers were pushing and shoving, and leaping their way through the milling ranks of Taxxons. One of them was familiar to Elfangor, very familiar.
Sub-Visser Seven grinned, watching Elfangor watch the advancing Hork-Bajir. You're looking the wrong way, Andalite. Sub-Visser Seven quickly wiped all emotion from his human face, in case someone looked in his direction.
"So we meet again at last, Andalite. Your name is Elfangor, right? That was the name you yelled so defiantly at me as you escaped. Wasn't it? You don't look happy to see me. I, on the other hand, am most pleased to see that the Taxxons haven't killed you yet. I was so hoping to have you all for myself."
Five Hork-Bajir advanced behind their Sub-Visser, leaving Elfangor to defend himself against half a dozen Hork-Bajir-Controllers. Elfangor knew that Arbron was still with him, but as a Taxxon, his friend was helpless if this situation turned into a fight. To make things even worse, Elfangor did not even know if he could trust Arbron, or Chapman for that matter.
Chapman had not liked him in the first place, and now, after being captured by the Yeerks and nearly eaten by a Taxxon, Elfangor didn't know what Chapman's reaction would be. But, his most pressing concern was the small army of Hork-Bajir that was currently bearing down on him. Elfangor would deal with Chapman when and if it became necessary.
"Surrender, Elfangor," Sub-Visser Seven oozed. "I won't kill you. I'll just… use you. I'll leave this crude body and live inside your head. I'll wrap my body around that smug, arrogant Andalite brain of yours and make you my slave. And with that morphing power you have, I'll rule the galaxy before I'm done. It's either that or death, Elfangor. There is no third choice."
There is always a third choice, you filthy Yeerk. Elfangor didn't project these thoughts so that the Sub-Visser could hear them, since he didn't feel like getting into a debate with the insane, power-hungry creature. There was really no point.
Arbron turned away from Chapman then, coming to stand beside Elfangor.
I guess we're a long way from home, eh Elfangor? Arbron said, seemingly not sure whether to laugh ruefully or to sigh. We are one lost, lonely pair of arisths, aren't we? Tell that Yeerk scum to dream on, tell him that we're Andalites, and we don't surrender.
Smiling with his eyes, Elfangor turned back to Sub-Visser Seven. You heard my friend, Sub-Visser. If you want me, come and get me, Elfangor tried to put as much bravado as he could into those words.
In all the great stories and legends, that line had always frightened the bad guys. Saying that got them to hesitate, and gave the heroes time to rally a counterattack. In real life, as Elfangor now found out, it didn't quite work that way.
Sub-Visser Seven chuckled coldly, grinning his terrifying Hork-Bajir grin.
"Okay. I will come get you. Cut him down! Now!"
Make sure you survive, Elfangor. Or I will be most disappointed. Sub-Visser Seven thought, as he watched the battle from his vantage point on the ship's ramp.
Elfangor flicked his tail, readying himself to fight for his life. Again. This is getting to be a habit, Elfangor thought to himself wryly. The Hork-Bajir leapt up the narrow ramp, but could only fit two of their people on at a time. Here, Elfangor clearly had the advantage.
Hork-Bajir were formidable opponents, to be sure, but their speed was a weakness that Elfangor could exploit. Everyone knew that Andalites were faster than Hork-Bajir, Elfangor had learned that himself when he was at the Academy. So he was not afraid of these Hork-Bajir coming at him now. The foremost Hork-Bajir slashed at Elfangor with his right wrist blade, and Elfangor severed both wrist and blade with a snap of his tail.
The second Hork-Bajir was either smarter or luckier than its comrade, Elfangor couldn't decide which. But he supposed it didn't really matter, as the approaching Controller shoved past his wounded comrade and ran at Elfangor's left side. Another one swung his body up and over the railing and landed on the ramp, standing now on Elfangor's right. The wounded Hork-Bajir was also a problem, as he still had at least four appendages left to attack with.
The odds, which had not been all that favorable to begin with, began to rapidly get worse. More Hork-Bajir began to rush up the ramp, crowding Elfangor and forcing him to move back. From that time on, the battle became a melee.
Hork-Bajir slashed at him, and Elfangor countered with quick swipes of his tail, severing blades as well as the arms, legs, or tails that they were attached to. Arbron tried to block the Hork-Bajir with his body, but they just shoved past him, and Arbron had to be very careful not to be injured. Not with all the ravenous Taxxons crowding around the boarding ramp.
"Elfangor, look out!" Loren shouted, as more Hork-Bajir swarmed up the ramp.
"What are you waiting for, you idiots?! Get him! He's only one Andalite!" Sub-Visser Seven shouted, enraged.
Elfangor fell back, pressed by the increasing numbers of Hork-Bajir. With no time to plan his moves, Elfangor was forced to react to the Hork-Bajir purely on instinct. Elfangor had already suffered a long cut across his left shoulder, and he knew that it was only a matter of time before he would be unable to defend himself any longer.
Another Hork-Bajir came up the ramp, and Elfangor cocked his tail back. Preparing to strike again. But, then this new Hork-Bajir did a most unexpected thing: he stopped and stood looking at Elfangor. He seemed to grin, like he was actually pleased to see that Elfangor was alive, rather than wanting to kill him.