The Andalite Chronicles: Loren's POV
(KA's timeline: Approximately chapter 9) A/N: Well, here I am again, a new chapter,,,,early too! Well, you guys deserve it, after the whole long break that I gave you guys. I've been re- reading TAC again to think about what I'm going to do with Loren, because pretty soon she's going to be all by herself with that nasty Chapman. You know the deal, constructive criticism,,,,,etc,,,,oh, and also, if you're a Harry Potter fan, I'm starting another fanfic based on OOTP, with a twist, check it out if you have a mind to,,,,
Chapter 7
Elfangor and Arbron worked feverishly at the computer, looking for where that Skrit Na ship went to. Before long, they found where it was headed, and Alloran took the ship back into what was that called? Z space? Something like that.
Chapman and I sat down on the grass in deep thought, or at least that was what I was doing. What was going to happen to us? What was this time thing? Was it going to be dangerous, getting whatever this thing was?
I looked up at the three Andalites. They were silent, yet their expressions clearly showed that they were scared, or at least Elfangor and Arbron were. But they weren't talking, so what-
"Hey. Hey!" Chapman said. "You're doing your little telepathy thing and keeping us out. I'm not an idiot."
//This does not involve either of you// said Elfangor sharply.
Excuse me?
Chapman stood up and grabbed Elfangor by the shoulder. Elfangor twitched his tail and you could just feel the electric tension between the two. Laughing sardonically, he said, "You don't scare me. I know you can kill us both. But that's not your style is it? Dragging us off across the galaxy is your style."
Despite Chapman's blunt and rude words, I had to agree wholeheartedly. Who did these Andalites think we were? Children?
//We have an emergency,// said Elfangor. //We regret that we cannot take you straight back to your planet. However--//
"However nothing. This little trip involves danger, doesn't it? You boys are in it deep. Like I said, I'm not an idiot (unfortunately, I thought). I can see you three are tense. I can see you're worried. Wherever it is we're going, you're scared. Which means me and the girl here should be afraid, too, right?"
I stood up; it was time to talk my part. I looked directly into Elfangor's eyes and said "Is that true, Elfangor? Are you taking us into danger?"
//Yes, Loren. We are going into terrible danger. If we are taken, the two of you will be killed or enslaved.//
While I stood shocked at this pronouncement, Chapman said, "You're dragging us into a battle and we can't even know what's going on? Is that Andalite fairness?"
If it is, I thought, then we need to introduce these Andalites to Miss Manners straightaway.
Elfangor looked like he wanted to say something more, but Alloran spoke first. //You two aliens have a right to know what you are being "dragged into," as you put it. We are going to a planet of creatures who are allies of the Yeerks. The Yeerks are parasites who seize control of the bodies and mind of other creatures. The Taxxons have been enslaved this way. By their own choice.//
Before I could even being to shudder in disgust, Elfangor added, //The Skrit Na have apparently discovered the long-lost Time Matrix. This is a device that allows people to move forward or backward in time. It is the most dangerous weapon imaginable.//
"Why would a time machine be a weapon?" I asked, curious.
"Duh. I go back in time and change history to wipe you out in the present. I could kill both your parents before they had you, and you'd never exist." Grinning, he said, "Better yet, I could go all the way back in time, back to the prehistoric days and find the earliest ancestors of humans and kill them. The entire human race would cease to exist."
And that's supposed to be a good thing to laugh about?
"I see why you guys are worried. If these Yeerks of yours get this thing, it's bye-bye Andalites."
Elfangor, thoroughly annoyed at Chapman (who wouldn't be?) pushed his face right next to Chapman's and said, //You'd better understand something, human. If it's "bye-bye" Andalites, it'll be "bye-bye" humans, sooner or later. Who do you think keeps the Yeerks from conquering every sentient race in the galaxy? We do.//
Sneering, Chapman said, "Maybe I'm with the wrong aliens. Maybe it's too bad I wasn't grabbed by the Yeerks. They sound like winners."
That did it, Chapman was going down. We couldn't afford to fight with these Andalites! They were our only ticket home, if we upset them badly enough, who knows what they might do? Strand us on some foreign planet or something worse. I opened my mouth to speak, but Alloran spoke first, ironically, laughing.
//You may be right, human. But you'd better hope you're not. I've seen what the Yeerks do to captive planets. I was there when the Yeerks took the Hork- Bajir world. Pray to whatever primitive gods you have, human, that the Yeerks don't ever take your world.//
I made a promise to speak to Chapman as soon as the Andalites were elsewhere. I could take him being pessimistic, but he was not going to ruin my, our only chance of getting home.
//Translation to normal space in one minute.//
I looked around for the source of the sound, but realized it was the computer speaking.
//Okay. We'll be coming out of Z-space fairly close to the Taxxon world. The area will be thick with Yeerk ships. The Jahar has excellent stealth shielding, but we may still be detected. From now on, we are on battle alert,// said Alloran.
//What's the plan? What do we do?// asked Arbron.
Laughing, Alloran said, //What's the plan? We locate the Skrit Na ship. And if it has landed, we go down after it and take back the Time Matrix. Of course we'd be a little obvious walking around as Andalites. So . . .//
Arbron and Elfangor's faces suddenly filled with horror. //Down to the surface of the Taxxon world? You mean . . . sir, are you planning for us to morph Taxxons?//
Morph? What? Were they going to mutate into something?
//You two arisths are going to have to grow up very fast now. I need warriors at my side. Are you ready to be warriors?//
It dawned on me just how serious this situation was as Elfangor said boldly, yet fearfully, //We're ready, Prince Alloran. We are ready to be your warriors. We're not afraid.//
(KA's timeline: Approximately chapter 9) A/N: Well, here I am again, a new chapter,,,,early too! Well, you guys deserve it, after the whole long break that I gave you guys. I've been re- reading TAC again to think about what I'm going to do with Loren, because pretty soon she's going to be all by herself with that nasty Chapman. You know the deal, constructive criticism,,,,,etc,,,,oh, and also, if you're a Harry Potter fan, I'm starting another fanfic based on OOTP, with a twist, check it out if you have a mind to,,,,
Chapter 7
Elfangor and Arbron worked feverishly at the computer, looking for where that Skrit Na ship went to. Before long, they found where it was headed, and Alloran took the ship back into what was that called? Z space? Something like that.
Chapman and I sat down on the grass in deep thought, or at least that was what I was doing. What was going to happen to us? What was this time thing? Was it going to be dangerous, getting whatever this thing was?
I looked up at the three Andalites. They were silent, yet their expressions clearly showed that they were scared, or at least Elfangor and Arbron were. But they weren't talking, so what-
"Hey. Hey!" Chapman said. "You're doing your little telepathy thing and keeping us out. I'm not an idiot."
//This does not involve either of you// said Elfangor sharply.
Excuse me?
Chapman stood up and grabbed Elfangor by the shoulder. Elfangor twitched his tail and you could just feel the electric tension between the two. Laughing sardonically, he said, "You don't scare me. I know you can kill us both. But that's not your style is it? Dragging us off across the galaxy is your style."
Despite Chapman's blunt and rude words, I had to agree wholeheartedly. Who did these Andalites think we were? Children?
//We have an emergency,// said Elfangor. //We regret that we cannot take you straight back to your planet. However--//
"However nothing. This little trip involves danger, doesn't it? You boys are in it deep. Like I said, I'm not an idiot (unfortunately, I thought). I can see you three are tense. I can see you're worried. Wherever it is we're going, you're scared. Which means me and the girl here should be afraid, too, right?"
I stood up; it was time to talk my part. I looked directly into Elfangor's eyes and said "Is that true, Elfangor? Are you taking us into danger?"
//Yes, Loren. We are going into terrible danger. If we are taken, the two of you will be killed or enslaved.//
While I stood shocked at this pronouncement, Chapman said, "You're dragging us into a battle and we can't even know what's going on? Is that Andalite fairness?"
If it is, I thought, then we need to introduce these Andalites to Miss Manners straightaway.
Elfangor looked like he wanted to say something more, but Alloran spoke first. //You two aliens have a right to know what you are being "dragged into," as you put it. We are going to a planet of creatures who are allies of the Yeerks. The Yeerks are parasites who seize control of the bodies and mind of other creatures. The Taxxons have been enslaved this way. By their own choice.//
Before I could even being to shudder in disgust, Elfangor added, //The Skrit Na have apparently discovered the long-lost Time Matrix. This is a device that allows people to move forward or backward in time. It is the most dangerous weapon imaginable.//
"Why would a time machine be a weapon?" I asked, curious.
"Duh. I go back in time and change history to wipe you out in the present. I could kill both your parents before they had you, and you'd never exist." Grinning, he said, "Better yet, I could go all the way back in time, back to the prehistoric days and find the earliest ancestors of humans and kill them. The entire human race would cease to exist."
And that's supposed to be a good thing to laugh about?
"I see why you guys are worried. If these Yeerks of yours get this thing, it's bye-bye Andalites."
Elfangor, thoroughly annoyed at Chapman (who wouldn't be?) pushed his face right next to Chapman's and said, //You'd better understand something, human. If it's "bye-bye" Andalites, it'll be "bye-bye" humans, sooner or later. Who do you think keeps the Yeerks from conquering every sentient race in the galaxy? We do.//
Sneering, Chapman said, "Maybe I'm with the wrong aliens. Maybe it's too bad I wasn't grabbed by the Yeerks. They sound like winners."
That did it, Chapman was going down. We couldn't afford to fight with these Andalites! They were our only ticket home, if we upset them badly enough, who knows what they might do? Strand us on some foreign planet or something worse. I opened my mouth to speak, but Alloran spoke first, ironically, laughing.
//You may be right, human. But you'd better hope you're not. I've seen what the Yeerks do to captive planets. I was there when the Yeerks took the Hork- Bajir world. Pray to whatever primitive gods you have, human, that the Yeerks don't ever take your world.//
I made a promise to speak to Chapman as soon as the Andalites were elsewhere. I could take him being pessimistic, but he was not going to ruin my, our only chance of getting home.
//Translation to normal space in one minute.//
I looked around for the source of the sound, but realized it was the computer speaking.
//Okay. We'll be coming out of Z-space fairly close to the Taxxon world. The area will be thick with Yeerk ships. The Jahar has excellent stealth shielding, but we may still be detected. From now on, we are on battle alert,// said Alloran.
//What's the plan? What do we do?// asked Arbron.
Laughing, Alloran said, //What's the plan? We locate the Skrit Na ship. And if it has landed, we go down after it and take back the Time Matrix. Of course we'd be a little obvious walking around as Andalites. So . . .//
Arbron and Elfangor's faces suddenly filled with horror. //Down to the surface of the Taxxon world? You mean . . . sir, are you planning for us to morph Taxxons?//
Morph? What? Were they going to mutate into something?
//You two arisths are going to have to grow up very fast now. I need warriors at my side. Are you ready to be warriors?//
It dawned on me just how serious this situation was as Elfangor said boldly, yet fearfully, //We're ready, Prince Alloran. We are ready to be your warriors. We're not afraid.//