The depression radiating off of the Horse-Controllers was almost tangible, but most of the Animorphs didn't know why they would be depressed after doing what they had just done. Marco voiced what most of the Animorphs were wondering.

(I don't get it. Why are they all moping around like this? I mean, they came, they saw… We all saw those things they were keeping in that lab, though I really don't know why they'd be interested in keeping some old sword, even if it is blue… But they got in, so why, why are they so depressed all of a sudden?)

(Ax says that they don't know what it is that they saw,) Jake reminded the other Animorphs. And if that sword belongs to who I think it does, it's probably one of the reasons that they Yeerks want in so badly.

(Speaking of swords, why did you seem so engrossed by that sword on the table, Jake?) Rachel asked.

(I thought it might belong to someone I've met.) Jake said cryptically, without pausing to think about what it was he was saying, or how others might interpret his words.

(Someone you've met?) Marco demanded. (How is that possible? I've known you all my life, and I've never heard you talking about some guy who had a blue sword before.)

Jake snapped out of his daze, hearing for the first time what he had really said. That, combined with the sheer disbelief in Marco's voice, let Jake know that he had said something he really shouldn't have, at least until he could make sense of it himself. (Sorry, I was just thinking out loud.)

(What were you 'thinking out loud' about, Jake?) Cassie asked kindly.

(Just something about who that sword might belong to is all.)

(Okay, getting off the subject of the sword that may or may not belong to someone Jake knows, what was that cube thing that we all saw?) Rachel cut in.

(It didn't look like it was any kind of spacecraft that I've seen before. And I don't think it would be unfair to assume that it's probably not a weapon,) Jake said. And the sword didn't belong to someone I knew, I said it might have belonged to someone I've met. I even have a fairly good idea of who it might belong to. Jake didn't say any of this, however, since he didn't want to bring up the subject again.

(Yeah, we know that, Jake,) Rachel put in. (But if all those scientists back at Area 51 don't know what it is, and none of us know what it is, and now we know that the Yeerks don't have the slightest idea, just how are we supposed to find out what that thing is?)

(I would not say that none of us know,) Aximili muttered, but no one appeared to be listening to him.

(Every conspiracy nut on the face of this planet is wondering what that thing back in the hangar is,) Tobias said ruefully, chuckling. (All of us saw it, and we don't even know what it might do, let alone who made it.)

(I would not say that none of us know,) Aximili said again, and this time Rachel heard him and responded.

(What do you know about that thing in the hangar, Ax?) Rachel asked, her tone somewhere between curious and mildly annoyed.

(I have seen one of those before, though I will freely admit that the only one that I have seen was in a museum…)