Sorry this took so long guys. I've had writers block for a really long time. I hope this doesn't disappoint anyone.

Well, more months seemed to blow by, and by then we were no longer teenagers. We were off the Canask planet, and searching for ghosts in space again. Only this time… I felt almost calm about it. Perhaps the Tahjinn and the Tahjett did some good after all. I was more focused on our goal. Then again, maybe it was just because I'd had one near-death experience and I wasn't too eager on trying that again soon.

The three ships slipped in and out of Z-space countless times, and here and there we thought we'd found a lead, but it was really something else. Ithiell was getting frustrated, I could tell. Rachel was more so, and Jake… well, I'd hardly seen Jake since that day in the sickbay. Cassie was there… but she was distant as well. So it was up to the rest of us to continue the bridge shifts, and keep the 'troops' in line, as Robert said. Sure, Ithiell would assign them to shifts as well, but they rarely showed up. Rachel, I heard from Tobias, was too busy training with Asen. Cassie and Jake… who knew.

Robert and I got another bridge shift together, and for once we actually had a civil conversation. Funny huh? We'd become really good friends, and I liked that.

Soon, Ithiell decided that we all needed a day off. He assigned a skeleton crew for to run the ship, and we'd all be on call if there were any emergencies, but other than that… most of us we're allowed a break.

I spent a few hours with Marco, who loved our time together, and a bit with Amanda and Robert too. Tobias and I passed on the hallways, where he told me Cassie and Jake were just fine; they we're actually planning for their wedding when we all got home. Rachel was actually going to spend the day with him, and I told him I was glad. But the person I really wanted to talk to, was Ithiell.

Ithiell, Ax, and Lowri were working on an attack plan together through communications every now and then. Something about using the three ships to help get on board that big ship of Inaads. Or rather, the Yeerk that was inside Inaad.

I pushed the button on the side of his door (which was sort of like a little door bell) and from inside I heard a voice say,

"Come in"

I opened the door, and went in to find a human Ithiell buttoning the top buttons of his shirt as he turned to look at me. He gave me a funny look as I stared at his face.

"Ithiell?"

"Yeah Jade?"

"What are you… why are you human? You don't need to…"

"Yes, I do"

"Huh? Why?"

"Walk with me. I'll explain on the way" he buttoned up the rest of his shirt, ushering me out the door. Together, we made our way side-by-side down the hallways.

"Jade, do you remember how I explained the mental bond between Chanaiben twins?"

"Yeah"

"Well, I have surmised… that while I am Chanaiben, Inaad… or the beast that calls herself Inaad… has a stronger mental link with me. And although I can shut the link for certain times, I still believe that if she has access to all of Inaad's memories like I think she does, she'll know if Inaad tries hard enough, she can break through my block"

"And this explains the reason you're human… why?"

"Because if I stay out of my true form for as long as possible, I believe that maybe a way to severely weaken the link"

"Hold on" I stopped and grabbed his arm, making him stop too "I thought you said we were going to use this link thing to find her. How are we gonna do that if…"

"It's a double-edged sword Jade. I could use it, but that'll also mean she knows where I am, and it might let her glimpse on our plan to get aboard that ship" He pushed me gently forward, and we fell back into step with each other.

"Do you even have a plan?"

"Yes. That's partly the reason I'm going to the holographics room"

"The what?"

"Holograms. You know, like…"

"Like in Star Trek. Yay" I mumbled. He just laughed at me.

"I didn't tell you about it earlier because it's in a place that no-one but my highest officers know of. Plus, it's fun to have a few secrets lying around, don't you think?"

I punched him playfully on the shoulder, listening as he laughed again. He led me to a door I knew I'd been before.

"Isn't this…"

"Yep"

"You hid it in here?! Man, you're good"

"No, just sneaky" he said, then pressed the panel to open the door to the conference room. Of all the places…

Before I knew it, the conference table and chairs were gone, and in its place was a miniature of something that looked like the hallways we'd just been in. Only with a lot more turns. And something else that I couldn't quite put my finger on…

"As you see, there's a lot more to plan before we can get close to our goal" He said, and I finally realised… well, guessed… what it was.

"It's the inside of that ship! Or… at least… a small part of it. The hallways… but how…"

"Inaad's Yeerk was careless. As I said before, our link goes both ways. The Yeerk controlling her forgot to shut her mind from me when she was reaching out to find me. Or… about us…"

"Do you think Inaad could have…"

"No. She knows what I'm like, and she knows I'm going to come after her, even if it means my death. She won't let that happen. The Yeerk… I think he or she was speaking out of their own faults when they mentioned that our link made Inaad weak. No. Inaad has always been the stronger one of both of us, even though she'd never admit it…" Ithiell stopped then, and he hung his head a little as he fought back the tears that threatened to fall. I went over and put an arm around him, rubbing his back gently in a supporting way. It seemed to make it worse.

"That's… the only thing I don't like about being human. It's… harder to control my tear ducts…" he sniffled, trying to wipe away the tears with the back of his hand.

"Yeah. Sucks, doesn't it?" I smiled up at him, and he let out a weak laugh.

"Jade… you used to remind me so much of Inaad when I first met you that… for a while I didn't mind not knowing if… but now… she was so close, and I never…"

"She knows you love her. No matter what happened in the past, and no matter what will happen, ok? After all, I'm one of four Ithiell. I'd know what I'm talking about"

He nodded, taking deep breaths to control himself. Soon, he seemed strong again, and I moved away.

"You're right Jade. So… I might as well give you a little snippet at what we might be planning to do" He used the computer and his own words to show me a part of what he wanted to do. It seemed absolutely insane, but then again… as Marco would say, we all ate insane for breakfast.

"Okay, but how do we get back out?"

"Well… that's the part we're still working on. Ax has really been a big help in this. Without his support, I'd have never gotten the plan this far"

"That's good" we mulled over the little table-sized hologram for a little longer, before leaving the conference room the way it used to be; with a table and chairs.

------------------------------x----------------------------

Bits and pieces of a very intricately woven plan were put into place, until it almost seemed solid. Then again, even solid plans could go horribly wrong. So, with the rest of our team and the Animorphs help, we managed to make a plan B and C. Amanda even highlighted a very sketchy plan D. But then again, we'd only do that if we were really desperate.

As usual, Rachel's attitude to the whole plan was 'let's do it!' and Marco's obvious response was 'this is insane'. Jake… well, Jake was shocked at the risk Ithiell planned to take for just one person. But Jake had underestimated Ithiell. Ithiell knew, if this abomination and her ship were ever to reach the Chanaiben home world, the invasion would begin again and everything would be lost. Everything the Animorphs fought for… everything each of them lost…would have been for nothing. And our last fight with the Terinans on the Chanaiben home world would have been for nothing too.

In fact, any planet that tried to tango with that ship would not last five minutes with it. Unless… it was another Runchak ship. And we didn't exactly have one of them lying around anywhere. Too bad though. But at least we were out of their space… and out of danger. At least for now.

There's that saying; the calm before the storm. Well, that was going to become more true now than when it was first said. For the time for us to 'do it' was about to be thrust on us like a tidal wave breaking over a beach.

I was in my quarters, with Marco asleep beside me. His face was so sweet, so content… I couldn't bring myself to wake him. So I got up and got changed into jeans and a top, leaving him there to sleep and probably dream sweet dreams. I slowly made my way up to the bridge, stretching as I went, and found only Ithiell there, asleep in the captain's chair, with his crew members working admirably. Ovatt was even there (Ithiell had given him a reprimand for his behaviour, but still let him work) and he swivelled his stalk eyes my way as he entered. He smiled at me with his stalk eyes.

(Good day Jade) he said privately so he wouldn't wake Ithiell up (I hope you have slept well?)

I went over to him, standing beside him and talking in a low voice.

"Yeah, I did. How are you and Kayleese?"

(Well. Kayleese is still a little… but now, she is fine) he looked at me with his main eyes now, smiling proudly. But then again, he had a reason to. Kayleese was going to have another baby, and this time he had guarded her like she was a porcelain doll. Thankfully, this time nothing happened to her, and her baby was due in the next few weeks. She was still a little upset about her first baby… then again, who wouldn't… but with the help of a wonderful husband like Ovatt, I knew she'd be ok.

"Good to hear Ovatt. So… your scanners picking up anything?"

He sighed (Besides readings from the Aerionna and the TailBlade, there is nothing out there besides stars and planets)

"Do we even know if we're going the right way?"

(Prince Ithiell believes they came this way, and I trust him, but…)

"I know Ovatt. Don't worry, I know we'll find them" I said patting his shoulder, then going over to Ithiell (still in his human form) and gently shook him awake.

"Whoa-huh?"

"Come on bud, you need some wake up juice"

"But I…"

"Hey Ovatt! Think you can alert us if there's trouble?"

(Yes, I can do this)

"Ithiell, what do you say?"

"Uhh…all right. I need a wakeup call anyway"

We made our way to the cafeteria, where he had a strong black coffee and I had a herbal tea. I took his mind off the mission, and instead made up some lame jokes (I swear, I've been around Marco too long) and basically avoided talk of the 'past battles' and family. It seemed to make him forget, at least for a while.

But when we were just getting up from the table, the lights turned yellow.

"All senior officers to the bridge. Emergency! Yellow alert!!" Came a voice I recognised as Keeras. Ithiell and I took one look at each other, and in seconds we were leaping over and darting around the tables to get to the door. When we got to the bridge everyone but Marco and Amanda were there.

"What is it? What's going on??" Tobias asked, looking panicked.

"We've spotted the ship, yet… we were lucky enough to warn the others to cloak, and we did as well, before it detected us" Keera explained as Genge made his way onto the bridge, and Ithiell took his place beside the two. Amanda came just after, looking like she'd just woken up. All of her blond shoulder-length hair was over onto one side. It would have almost been funny if I didn't know we weren't facing our enemy so soon.

"Good. You did the right thing. Now… we just have to find a position and angle to attack from. Through coded transmissions inform the Aerionna and the TailBlade to follow the ship closely, but not to close to be discovered" His orders were carried out, and although I couldn't see the other two ships, I knew they were doing exactly what they'd been told.

Marco appeared beside us seconds later, looking grim. He knew, this was it. We all did.

"Let's do it!" Rachel cried, pumping a fist in the air, her blue eyes ablaze.

"I'm with her" Robert smiled, jabbing a thumb in her direction.

"Did the two of you get separated at birth or something?" Marco asked rolling his eyes at them. They looked at each other and both laughed.

"Okay Ithiell" Jake interrupted their crazy laugh moment and dragged us back to what we were about to do "It's time we put this idea of yours to work"

"Yeah, I believe it is" Ithiell replied, nodding his head and looking at each of us, along with his bridge crew.

"If any of you want out of this now, say so" None of us (or them) did.

"All right then. Six minutes, then we go"

Fifteen minutes later, thirteen of us were huddled in both the small docking ship and a fighter, cloaked, waiting for the final assault to begin.

Just a quick (and probably annoying) question. Do any of you like any of my characters? If so, who do you like the most? If you don't know, or don't want to answer, that's fine. Just keep reading and reviewing, and I'll keep updating. Deal? Good, now go and run away! Hehehehe!