The Andalite Chronicles: In Loren's POV

Chapter 3 (Aproximately chapter 5 and 6 in KA's TAC version)

The aliens, no, they were called "Andalites," took me over to their ship, (I guess that's what it was) after they dealt with those Skritch Noses or whatever those things were.

When they went over to go get the other guy, I thought about my choices. Something inside me trusted these aliens, even though I knew nothing about them. Or maybe I just trusted them with my freedom on an impulse. Who knows? With these thoughts in mind, the Andalites came back carrying the other guy.

"Uhn," he moaned. He had a cut one his forehead that was still bleeding.

Poor guy. I went over to him and knelt down beside him. "Hey, kid, you okay?"

He opened his eyes and looked over at the Andalites strangely. "What happened?" He asked me.

I shrugged. "Now we have a different bunch of aliens. Who'da guessed there were so many people zipping around outer space?" I looked at his cut again. "Are you okay? That big cockroach popped you pretty good back there."

You have nothing to fear, Elfangor said. You are safe now.

I almost laughed at that. I mean, imagine being kidnapped by aliens and then waking up with another bunch and them trying to comfort you. Great comfort, huh?

He didn't say anything but felt his cut on his head and then stood up, facing the Andalites.

I am Elfangor. This is Arbron. We are Andalites. We will return you to your home planet, said Elfangor.

"Telepathy. You use telepathy to talk," the guy said. I hadn't thought of that, but it made sense now, thinking about it. And me being the supposed Star Trek geek! I should've come up with that. Ignoring me and sizing up the Andalites, he continued. "That tail is a weapon, isn't it? Is it poisonous or does it just cut?"

I politely told you my name, human. Now, I require YOUR name, Elfangor said.

"My name is Hedrick, actually. But I prefer my last name. Most people call me by my last name: Chapman."

I decided to try to break up the tense situation. "I think these Andalites are okay. At least they're better-looking than the last bunch. And they've promised to--"

"Shut up. I'm not interested in the opinion of a kid," he interrupted me.

How dare he? Did he do anything to set us free? "Kid? Hey, you big jerk, who was it that got the weapon after the ship stopped moving? ME. And who was cringing in the back, begging for mercy? YOU. And anyway, I'd be surprised if you're even a year older than me."

Hah! He gave off a deep blush. Maybe that would teach him some manners.

"And now it seems that your heroics were pointless. We're prisoners again. And I have a feeling that we won't be grabbing guns away from these Andalites." Suddenly he jumped forward at Elfangor, trying to grab the gun! FWAPP! I didn't see it, but somehow Elfangor got his tail blade up against Chapman's throat.

Instead of being frightened, he laughed. "See that? See how fast he was? Couldn't even see that tail move. What did you say your species is called? Andalites? Well, I have a feeling that you guys are a little more dangerous than you pretend to be, despite all your polite talk and promises."

Was this guy nuts? Either way, if the Andalites were friendly or not, we certaintly didn't want to get them ticked off! I was about to say someting, but Elfangor looked very embarrassed about what happened. As though it was his fault. I promised myself a private talk with Chapman once we were alone. This guy could screw us both over!

The rest of the ride to the Andalite's ship was pretty quiet. I couldn't blame the Andalite's though; Chapman was so rude and ungrateful to them.

Anyway, the Andalite's ship was much bigger than those other alien's ship. It looked something like an upside down palm tree. There was a long shaft with a clear dome on the bottom. I didn't get a good chance to look though because we went straight to the shaft.

We went inside the shaft and it looked just like a long hallway except, of course, there were Andalite's moving about it. Arbron went to announce our presence, but came back and said that everyone was too busy right now.

What should we do with them? Elfangor asked.

Let's just give them a tour. Take them down to the dome. Arbron suggested.

They led the way down to the end of the shaft. There was a straight drop to the dome. How did we get to the dome? Just fall down?

Okay, this part is a little tricky, Elfangor said. You just walk naturally along the curving floor. I know it looks like you're walking off the edge of a cliff, but the artificial gravity will move with you.

I stepped cautiously forward. Even with Elfangor's reassurances, I was still hesitant. There's nothing that can completely take away basic human instincts but I ended up closing my eyes and I walked forward. Suddenly I was on the other side, still upright! I laughed out loud, feeling as though I had just cheated fate. What wouldn't Earth give for this kind of technology?

Then I looked around and cried out, "It's huge! It's like a whole park in here! Trees. Grass. Flowers. Wow." I was amazed. I didn't think that such a thing could exist in space, a regular Central Park, but here I was.

You have these kinds of things on your planet? Elfangor asked me.

"Well, similar. Our trees are almost always green," I said. "And the grass is all green, too." With another look around, I added "More green than this, I mean, not so much blue. And no red." It was beautiful though, maybe even prettier than Earth's parks. It was so much more colorful.

If you are hungry, please feel free to eat as much as you like, Elfangor said.

Huh? I couldn't see any vegetables or fruit trees.

"Eat what?" Chapman asked.

Elfangor waved his hand to indicate the park. We have seventeen species of grass in thirty different flavors.

"Grass? You eat grass?" I asked.

Chapman nodded. "That's why you have the dome, isn't it? You graze. Like horses or cows. Only you don't have mouths. So how do you eat?"

Wait a minute, you eat with your mouths? Arbron asked.

I looked at him strangely, as Chapman said what I was thinking. "How else are you going to eat?"

With your hooves like any sensible creature, Arbron said. Then he laughed, which is interesting to watch in an Andalite. His eyes twinkled mischievously. Do you mean that Earth humans walk around pressing their mouths to the ground to eat? He turned to Elfangor. Okay, now even you have to admit THAT would be funny to see.

Funny? Why the majority of the animals on Earth ate that way, through mouths. It was hard to imagine otherwise. Did the majority of aliens really eat with their feet?

"Well, we don't necessarily eat grass," Chapman explained. "Most of our food is meat. You know, eating dead animals' meat that's been cooked."

I changed the subject quickly. If these Andalites were really only grass-eaters, what would they think of us as meat eaters? Granted, we were truly omnivores, but still, who knows what an alien might do. If we met intelligent cows in space, we'd probably be dead by now, I thought ironically.

"Do you mind if I take my shoes off? We've been cooped up in that Skritchy Nose flying saucer. It'd be nice to walk on the grass." With no objections, I sat down on the grass. But as soon as I tried to take off my shoe, Elfangor yelled at me.

What are you doing? Stop that! Stop! Why are you hurting yourself?

I stopped, a bit freaked by his yelling. "What? What are you yelling about?"

You're going to hurt yourself, and I don't think our doctors know how to help humans, Elfangor said.

I sat there, holding my shoe still on my foot. Suddenly, I figured it out. I laughed and said "These aren't hooves, Elfangor. They're shoes. See?" I untied my shoe and took it off.

Noooo! Ahhhh! shouted the two Andalites.

I ignored them and took off my sock. Eww. It was all smelly from being worn for so long. I flexed my toes. "See? This is my foot. We don't have hooves. And we wear shoes over our feet. See? They keep the rocks or whatever from hurting our feet."

They stared at me, a bit weirded out, I think. Well, fair enough. It's not like any other animals on Earth wear shoes, certainly not our horses, which were the closest thing on Earth that resembled the Andalites. I stood up and started a quick sprint across the dome. I turned my head and called to them. "Come on!"

"Feels . . . good . . . to stretch . . . my muscles," I said as I started to slow down, breathing a little heavy. With my momentum, I twirled around, my hair flying around my face. "I was sure I was going to die on that flying saucer," I said. "But here I am! Amazing." I looked around at the park again.

I guess this all seems very strange. Elfangor said.

I gave a little chuckle. "Oh, yeah. Strange isn't the half of it. This is a beautiful tree. Pink leaves. Incredible." It was very pretty. It looked so exotic, as though it could be on one of those tropical islands in the Pacific Ocean.

It's called a therant tree. It's in its creast phase. Do you see the way the grasses become more gelasic and less escalic as they grow near? That is because--

I had touched one of the branches, testing its strength, and then pulled myself up, stretching my muscles. Elfangor looked amazed. As he stared, Arbron and Chapman caught up with us. I laughed; I couldn't help it. If they were humans, I was sure their jaws would have been dropped right now.

Very strong arms! said Arbron. Can you imagine lifting your whole body up with your arms?

To me, it didn't seem like a huge feat, but I guess if you were of such big stature, like the Andalites, it'd be very hard.

That skin is very strange. It's almost as if it's not attached, Elfangor remarked.

I let myself drop back down to the ground. What skin?

"It's not skin," Chapman explained. "It's called clothing. Like the artificial hooves? This is artificial skin. It keeps us warm."

I almost laughed at that. Sure, to keep us warm, plus that other factor, that oh so tiny reason that we don't want to see everyone all naked! I smiled.

You're cold?

"No. But that's why we have clothing. To keep us warm in cold places."

Why would you be in cold places? Elfangor asked.

Chapman shrugged. "Parts of Earth are very cold. Parts of it are so cold you'd die without many layers of clothing." Plus the fact that 80 year old men and women are just not pretty to look at, my mind added.

But why do you live in those places? asked Elfangor, still curious.

Chapman smiled sardonically. "We're not going to be kept out of a place just because the weather's bad. We adapt. We grab whatever's available and make the best of it." Sounds like New York. "At least that's my motto: Grab what you can."

Elfangor started to ask Chapman something else, but another Andalite came up and told Arbron that he was to go be debriefed. Aristh Arbron, report to the debriefing officers. Aristh Elfangor, put the humans in a holding room. He walked briskly away, with a definite air of seniority over Elfangor and Arbron.

As Elfangor led Chapman and I to this "holding room" I couldn't help but wonder: Will we really get home? And if we do, how will we explain everything?