Chapter 12

Ax

I'd decided that I would just keep my thoughts to myself and let Prince Jake handle the talking. I was a warrior, not a diplomat. Nothing was going to change that. I did not possess the sense of subtlety that Prince Jake did. It wasn't entirely my fault – humans had practically redefined galactic politics in the few short years they'd been involved. Surprising, I know. I, like most Andalite soldiers, viewed subtlety as a very human way to miscommunicate so they could find reasons to kill each other.

My attention returned to Prince Jake and Amni'bel, who were walking side by side in front of Toby and I down a beautiful obsidian hallway decorated with sapphires. If the stones were genuine, this hallway was worth more than a Dome ship. "Please, Princess, allow me to ask you about something you mentioned earlier," Jake inquired in a manner I'd learned to interpret as 'politely prying.' She gestured for him to ask. "You talked about a prophet who seemed to know we were coming. Not only that, but he knew who we were and predicted our behavior. I was under the impression that before today, your people weren't even aware of the existence of humans. Obviously, I was wrong, since you speak my language and your people were more or less prepared for our arrival."

Amni'bel lowered the veil that covered her face half of the time. I'd developed a theory behind her veil – it was a primitive way to show distance or closeness to whoever she was addressing. She'd lower it if she felt on level ground with whom she was speaking, and would cover her face if she felt distant. I'd been watching, and my hypothesis had yet to be proved wrong. "I don't know if 'prophet' is the correct word for this being," she said slowly, as if to make sure she didn't say too much. "That is what the people of my tribe call him, but he is not one of us." She seemed deep in thought as she hiked up the beautiful robe she wore in order to climb an open set of stairs. "I suppose it cannot hurt to tell you what I know. He has requested to meet you as soon as you arrived, anyway."

"Is that where we're going now?" Prince Jake posed indulgently, and the princess nodded.

"He is a human, like you. And he has…another…with him," she said, casting a glance back at me for the first time since we entered the building. "He told us you would come, and that you would be hostile. You would attempt to gain my trust and subvert my people. This is not true, is it?" she asked Jake, peering into his eyes.

"No, it is absolutely not true," he said, openly honest. "We are here to help save your people from a tragedy that could destroy you."

She tilted her head in an approximation of a humored expression. "Funny. That is exactly what the other human says about his group of people. The thing that I don't understand is why two humans would speak poorly of each other to a neutral party."

Jake sighed. "I know enough about your race to know that you don't have real wars." He waved down the princess as she automatically raised her veil and swelled up as if Jake had poisoned her with his words. "That is to say, you are wise enough to love honor and battle, but do not destroy yourselves in the process." I had no idea how much of what he was saying were his true feelings and how much was said to humor Amni'bel's obvious, deep-seated beliefs. "Humans have had several great wars, destroying much of the planet itself, not to mention the massive loss of life. We have also fought and won a different kind of war recently – the invasion of the Yeerks."

Amni'bel nodded. "I know. I have read about it on the prophet's computer. He showed me how a few Andalite bandits won your war for you. Why should I listen to anything humans have to say? Why shouldn't I negotiate with the Andalites, or with no one at all?"

I could not stand for this any longer. (If you choose to believe lies that a human-controller feeds to you, go ahead. We can leave your entire race to be wiped out by the Yeerks and their new allies,) I spat.

Surprisingly, she stopped and lowered her veil to me for the first time. "At last. You speak what is in your heart, not what you think I want to hear. Enlighten me, Andalite."

I did not calm down. (You act as if you know all, but the truth is that you know nothing! Stop to think, Princess. Why would this 'prophet' tell you that his own culture was too weak to fight their own war? Because he is not a true human at all. This,) I said, gesturing to Prince Jake, (is a true human. Brave, heroic, smart, calculating…even ruthless when need be. Andalite bandits did not win the war for the humans. I should know – I was the only Andalite present for any of it. Prince Jake and his very young companions, the four humans that he brought with him, defeated the Yeerk Empire single-handedly. If not for Prince Jake, I would be dead, the entire human race would be enslaved, and my own people would be under attack right now. Because of his actions and those of his friends, peace reigns in our sector of the galaxy. That is why you should listen to him, not some Yeerk pretender,) I finished. I wanted to say more, but I was out of words and out of energy.

Amni'bel seemed to consider my words, then nodded. "A very emotional speech, friend Andalite. One that I am inclined to believe." She subtly gestured to the two guards trailing us at a discrete distance, and they gracefully bounded to a door set in the side of the hall. As they took up positions on either side of the doorway, the princess said, "We are here. We are under a truce with these beings." She looked to Jake, who nodded his understanding. "Since we have a truce with them and we also have a truce with you, you are expected to behave as guests and limit yourselves to talking. If you cannot resist violence, you may offer a sub-challenge."

"What is a sub-challenge?" Toby said from beside me, and I almost jumped. They were the first words she'd spoken since we left the ship. It seemed that she was totally in her element – listening, observing, and judging in the way the most exceptionally intelligent beings do.

"It is not as significant as a full challenge, but must suffice in situations like these. For example, if I did not like the way that guard looked at me, I would challenge him, and it would be a full challenge. He would then have two choices – accept the challenge, or accept the public shame and humiliation that refusing a challenge would certainly bring him."

"Since you and the so-called prophet are of a people who are not well-known to us, we can only allow sub-challenges to take place between you. As a Taruff, I would not know if a certain look or gesture should offend a human enough to offer a challenge, you see?" Prince Jake nodded. "In the case that you are inclined to offer a sub-challenge, the prophet will either accept or decline, just like a normal challenge. The difference is that there will be no repercussions for declining. The people of Xylen cannot judge what they do not understand."

"So, if they challenge us and we say no, we won't be held in lower esteem?" Jake asked.

"Correct. It will be as if the challenge was never offered. Not to worry, you already have the general population's support," she comforted him. Jake looked a little confused and obviously decided to let it pass, but a stray path of thinking had fired off in my brain.

(We have their support for accepting the pilot challenges when we landed, you mean?) I asked her for clarification.

She walked to the doorway and rested her hand on the handle. "Yes, you are received well for winning those two challenges. Also for your fighter pilot accepting a well-meant challenge from one of our best pilots and defeating him."

Jake looked as if she'd shocked him, but managed to nod as if he already knew about Marco. (Of course,) I thought to myself. (Marco would.)

She opened the door and stepped aside, and Jake walked confidently in with me right behind him. He backed up directly into me when he saw who I saw at the same instant – Chapman. Prince Jake started to draw his sword, and only the Taruff guard, who had somehow slipped past me without me noticing, stopped him from finishing the motion by grabbing his wrist in an iron grip.

I instinctively swung my tail blade at the hand that was restraining my prince, but found it stopped short of its target by a gold-outlined wrist blade thrust inches behind Prince Jake's head. I started to push forward for more room to maneuver, but Amni'bel's command stopped me short. "Stop! Unhand the human prince and the Andalite at once!" The guards complied immediately and melted away into the shadows of the humongous, nearly empty chamber. Chapman smiled.

"Well, hi there, Jake. Long time, no see," he said, nodding comfortably from his sitting position on a raised stone slab.

(Shut up, Yeerk,) I said viciously. (You will not confuse us by playing games.)

He laughed. "To the point, as usual. Well, I see that you're not here to chat, so let's get down to business."

"We don't want your business," Jake said. "Why are you here and not at the Trunsk planet or whatever?"

"Well, I decided I'd just deal with you here. It be quicker."

(Ha!) I laughed. (You and what army, Yeerk?)

Chapman gave me an icy stare. "No army. Me and Efflit 2230 don't need one to take care of you."

"You mean, the Yeerks not in control?" Jake said incredulously. "I don't believe you."

"Believe what you want while you can. You're about to be exterminated. Of course, by the ridiculous laws on this planet, I challenge you to a duel or whatever. For now, though -"

"Silence!" Amni'bel cut him off. "The challenge is offered. According to our ridiculous laws, Prince Jake may choose his weapon."

I had a sudden flash of insight. (Hand-to-hand! You can morph, Chapman can't!) I cried. A predatory smile spread across Jake's face.

"Hand-to-hand, if you please, Chapman," he said.

"This is ridiculous!" Chapman yelled. "You can't expect me to -"

"Be silent, or I will silence you," a guard said menacingly with a wrist blade gesture. He shoved Chapman closer to Jake, who was already dropping on all fours.