7 How the blind can see
- - -
Tobias had demorphed to hawk and remorphed back to human because he had almost his two-hour limit. He was sitting on a chair that gave an impression of sloppiness. It was simply cut out of a slab of wood-like material. Rachel was still standing (still near the doorway she had come through), but she was the only one. The rest were sitting, like Tobias. She had directed Jeanne into what she called the "kitchen". It was just a room where she stored her "food".
And that was Kelbrid food. Food that still was "alive" when you ate it. Jeanne had, under Rachel's instruction, brought in some on a tray, accompanied by small bowls of water – Kelbrid had bowls, not glasses.
Rachel lifted a squirming piece of green-purple fluff – about the size of a peanut – up and held it in place with accustomed fingers. "This is pata'oki," she said. "I've never figured out if these things are plants or animals, but…" shrugging, she popped it into her mouth and began chewing. "It's an awful lot of fun to try chewing them."
The remaining humans in the room regarded the squirming pata'oki with a lot of doubt. Marco was finally brave enough to pick one up, but it slithered out of his hand like an eel and he had to grab at it again.
"Nasty little things," he said. "Are they really alive?"
Rachel shook her head. "Not alive. Or… plant-alive. They're not aware. They just move, even after you pick them." She smiled again. "Picking them used to be a favourite habit of mine, before…" she stopped talking and made a gesture towards her eyes. "You see, they grow like fruit, on plants. But touch the plants and they'll jump up and try to run away. They're very fast." Maybe she realised no-one was that intent on actually eating, so she added; "Try one. I haven't had normal food in a long while, so I wouldn't know… but I think they taste like chicken."
"They say the same thing about snails, you know," Marco commented, watching the "food" in his hand. Then he dropped the thing into his mouth. Chewed. Made a face, but continued chewing the uncooperatively still-squirming pata'oki, and finally swallowed. "How long have you been eating these things?"
"Not just these," Rachel laughed. "Other things as well. Kul'lj, ghy'yh… lots of things. Some of it good, actually. Since I got here."
"How did you get here, by the way?" Jeanne wondered. She had put the tray down on a table. Tobias was watching the pata'oki, maybe comparing them to mice, maybe wondering if it was worth the trouble to eat one.
Rachel shrugged. "Long story."
"How did you survive?" Jake asked. "I thought that polar bear killed you."
"So did I," Rachel said. "I still think he did, actually. But then… I was suddenly in this part of the universe. Very much alive. In my own body – or an exact copy of it, except for the morphing part."
"How did you end up with these Kelbrid?" Santorelli said.
"Well, you all probably know what happened on the Blade ship," Rachel began. "I remember that polar bear killing me – that's kinda hard to forget. Next thing I know, I'm on some planet. In this body, unharmed. The Kelbrid found me, and took care of me. A group who called themselves the Chosen. I noticed very quickly that something was wrong with those types. I mean, they were aliens, but there's still only a certain amount of weird you can get. And when they were raided by this group we're with now, I made sure I was brought along.
"I learned most of my Kelbrid language here. And I learned what I had guessed about the Chosen; something's very wrong with those guys." She stopped speaking and made a dramatic pause.
"What's so wrong?" Marco asked finally, giving in to curiosity.
Rachel made a half-impatient gesture and continued talking, but did not really answer his question. "That was about three years ago, after living with the Chosen for half a year. Just after that, the Yeerks showed up. Suddenly they were best buds with the Chosen." She sighed, rubbing her forehead sadly.
"What's wrong with the Chosen?" Marco asked again.
"To others," Rachel said, almost looking straight at him – at least turning her face in the direction his voice came from. "They're known as the Touched. The maniacal followers of the One.
"This group is more of a resistance. The anti-Yeerk, anti-Touched group. People who believe in that familiar, simple word with a million meanings; freedom. But it's only a small fraction of all the Kelbrid."
"How many Kelbrid are there?" Menderash asked. He had been, unavoidably, swallowing everything he heard about the Kelbrid like a computer fed information. And not doing much to hide it.
"I'm not sure…" Rachel said. "The Kelbrid are spread out to planets and moons all over their quadrant of space. All their colonies… no-one knows exactly how many there are. I don't think they've ever been counted. The resistance has this one, Cava'ara, but the Touched…" she shrugged. "At least a billion large colonies. Countless smaller ones. Any planet they've found that's able to hold life but lacks a sentient species. How many Touched? Billions. Billions of billions. I don't know. But they have some serious numbers on their side."
Menderash nodded grimly and turned to Jake. "I believe I am obliged to notify the War Council about this, Captain," he said. "this is vital information. If these Touched are allies of the Yeerks…"
"Menderash, Menderash, Menderash," Marco said, hand over his eyes as he shook his head slowly, face down. "If the Andalite War Council hasn't figured this out yet, they're not worth the name. They probably know."
Menderash looked uncertain.
"So, Jake, now you're 'Captain'?" Rachel said.
Jake sighed. "At least I got rid of the 'Prince'."
"One moment," Marco snapped. "I thought we were here to find Ax."
"That's the problem."
"Do you have a ship?" Rachel wondered.
"Had," Tobias corrected. "A stolen Yeerk cruiser. Named after you." Rachel's blindly staring eyes shone with pride. "But Jake here decided to crash it into the Blade ship."
"He likes sending Rachels to their deaths," Marco grinned.
"This time, it was good, though," Tobias said. "Getting rid of Rachel the ship led us to the real Rachel."
"I knew I should have stayed with the ship," Marco muttered.
"Shut up, Marco." Rachel popped another pata'oki into her mouth and began chewing. "So that's why Menderash went human," she said, rolling her eyes at herself. "Should have realised that earlier. Because you needed a pilot for your ship and there's still that treaty."
"You know about the treaty?" Menderash said.
"Guess why I'm still here?" Rachel smiled. "The Kelbrid flew me to the border but no further. Hey, my own fighter refused to fly further. Kelbrid craft, you know. Drove me mad."
"You've got your own fighter?" Jeanne said.
"Yes. Designed it myself and named it the Hawk."
Tobias's head jerked up from watching the pata'oki. Rachel smiled again.
"Favour repaid, it seems. But that treaty is part of the most basic programming. I can do a lot of things with my fighter, but I can't overwrite that. Not that I haven't tried. I spent a week trying to pass the border. Finally, Ka'an and the others had enough and dragged me back here."
Jake had taken on that calculating look again. Marco glanced at him with some worry. "Jake?" he said. "You haven't got some mad, suicidal, completely-out-of-the-question plan again, have you?"
"Of course not," Jake assured him. "This one is perfectly reasonable."
"That's what I was afraid of," Marco sighed.
Jake did like a lot of other people and ignored him. "Rachel? Would you be able to convince them to lend us a fighter?"
Rachel looked hurt. Then her face darkened. "You're not leaving me behind, are you?"
Jake was glad she couldn't see his face as that awkward it's-hard-to-explain-without-hurting-your-feelings expression appeared. "Rachel, you're not exactly in a state to fight."
"That's for me to determine," she snapped. "I'll lead you to the fighters. Show you around. But you need my help if you're getting one of them off this planet. And I'm not going to help you unless I can come with you."
"Rachel…" Jake began.
"Oh, shut up." She began walking towards the exit, motioning for them to follow. "This way. And – like it or not – I am coming with you, Jake."
"No." Tobias flew up from his chair and grabbed her arm, in a manner that indicated that he could not decide whether he should be helping her or stopping her.
She broke free, eyes flashing, and pulled back. "I'm blind, Tobias, not helpless!" But she stopped walking. "I can still walk. By myself. This is my house, I can find the door. But by the way, maybe I should get Tom…"
Jake's face lit up. "Tom's here? Alive?"
"Not that Tom," Rachel said and Jake looked downcast again. "He's my pet. I just named him after Tom. Figured that… oh, it doesn't matter."
"Xena's sentimental!" Marco cheered, grinning widely. "Oooh, alert the media!"
"He was my cousin," Rachel said. "after all. If I killed you, Marco, I assure you; there'd be no sentimentality."
Marco's grin, if possible, widened even more.
Rachel couldn't see that, of course, but she probably knew anyway. She rolled her blindly staring eyes. And began calling for Tom.
A four-legged creature came out of one of the rooms. At first glance, it was similar to a dog.
But at once after that first impression you saw that this was no happy, do-goodish, cuddly dog. It had short, rough, golden-tan fur, golden eyes, and pointy, standing ears. Four long, sleek legs, clearly built for running. Fast and far.
But that's where the similarities ended. "Tom" was bigger than any dog, his back as high up as Jake's waist. His tail was long, muscular and ended in a scythe-blade, like on an Andalite, but it was carried behind him instead of above him. His spine, neck and back legs were lined with blades. He had claws like knives on each of the three toes on each large paw.
He generally did not look like the type of alien you would want to start a fight with.
"Beautiful, isn't he?" Rachel said, as Tom walked up to her side, cold eyes glaring at the six strangers with suspicion but – fortunately – doing nothing.
"He's certainly your type of pet," Marco agreed.
"The Kelbrid keep them as companions. Call them kii-raja."
"Which means?" Santorelli wondered.
"Literally, it means 'the one who chases'," Rachel told them. "These little sweeties used to chase and make easy meals out of Kelbrid… before they were tamed."
Menderash shook her head. "I have seen Kelbrid horns at work," he stated with typical Andalite one-mindedness. "I do not believe anything is…"
Rachel's eyes glittered, knowing what he was thinking, and she nodded. "They are."
"But those horns… are incredibly fast."
"Yes," Rachel agreed, now smiling. "They are. Kii-rajas are faster."
Menderash went a little pale. He probably didn't like the idea of anything being faster than his tail – it doubtlessly made him feel uneasy – and especially when he didn't even have his tail.
Rachel put a hand on Tom's head – that easily reached up to her chest – and stroked it thoughtfully, looking as if she was concentrating. "Let him take a look at you. I want to see what you look like."
Uncertain glances were exchanged.
"'See what we look like'?" Marco echoed. "Okay. That's a new one. I thought you were supposed to be blind."
"I am. But Tom's not." She paused, and grimaced. "Maybe I should explain."
"Maybe you should."
Rachel nodded. "The kii-raja are semi-sentient. To put it that way. They communicate in thought-speech – or just thought-pictures, really. I just trained Tom here to show me what he sees."
Rachel took hold around Tom's head and turned it until the giant creature was looking straight at Menderash. Turned again to Santorelli, Jeanne, Marco and Jake.
"You've grown up," she said when she was done. "even Marco. Although he hasn't grown much taller."
"You've grown up, too," Marco replied. "If we were on Earth, you'd have to duck for doorways."
"Very funny, Marco," Jeanne snapped. "But at least she's better off than you. Doorknobs have to bend down so you can reach them."
"That is, if they even notice he's there," Rachel added.
"You know what, Rachel?" Jeanne said, smiling. "I think we'll get along just fine…"
"Jake?" Marco wailed, glancing from Jeanne to Rachel and back again. "Tell them to stop it!"
"We have work to do," Menderash reminded the group.
Rachel nodded and began walking towards the door-hole. Tom kept at her side, staying just a step to her left. Using his eyes as her guide she managed to find her way to the door and felt for the edge to confirm where she was. It was slightly confusing, naturally, when your eyes are half a meter to your left.
"Come on," she said. "We have to find Ka'an. He's in charge of this colony – unofficially, but effectively. He's also in charge of the military part." She climbed nimbly outside, Tom following as if he was her shadow.
Tobias and Jeanne went after her, and Santorelli and Menderash were talking quietly as they neared the door-hole.
"This was unexpected," Marco said to Jake.
"What?"
"Meeting Rachel."
"Yes," Jake agreed. "It was." And laughed. "A real stroke of luck. She's exactly what we need: someone who knows the Kelbrid, the One, and this entire quadrant of space. Plus, she's got friends backing up with firepower."
- - -
«It is not up for discussion, Larynia!» Nemsar repeated for the fourth time. «You are being transferred to the Daybreak. Your opinion on the matter is irrelevant.»
«Nemsar –»
He swivelled around. Even his stalks stopped circling and focused on her. «This is not home, aristh. This is the BladeSwipe, an Andalite warship. You will address me in a proper manner!»
«Yes, Prince Nemsar,» she snapped, stalks briefly lowered. When she raised them they were steaming.
The BladeSwipe was – finally, according to Larynia – heading towards Kelbrid territory. To battle. And Nemsar sent her away! The Daybreak wasa new, modern ship, very interesting and with powerful weapons, but it was doing some simple guard duty near the home world. And there was exactly one word to describe that; boring.
«I want to go with you!»
«You're not going to. It is dangerous out there.»
«That's why I want to go!»
He fixed her gaze in his own. «Larynia. Eight of ten ships sent to Kelbrid territory are destroyed or never heard from again. I'm not bringing my sister to such a place.»
«But you're going!»
Nemsar ignored that and continued. «A pilot will fly you and Estrid to the Daybreak in less than an hour. The arrangements have already been made.»
«LESS THAN AN HOUR?!» Larynia echoed in a protesting voice. «You didn't even warn me about this!»
«I'm your Prince, aristh Larynia, not your secretary. I do not need to ask you about anything.» He sighed. His stalks began circling again. «Go gather your things and tell Estrid to do the same. Meet me in docking station fifteen in thirty-nine minutes.»
«Yes, my Prince,» Larynia muttered, voice somehow managing to mock him even as her stalks were lowered. She twirled around, letting her tail swipe at the air, and trotted away, still steaming with irritation.
- - -
Docking station fifteen had room for twenty fighters. But it was almost deserted, and silence hung over the gleaming fighters where they stood waiting for their pilots and for battle.
Estrid and Larynia would normally have enjoyed the visit; arisths (Estrid was, basically, treated like one) were not commonly without supervision in a docking station. But now the two gloomily walked towards the only fighter where anyone was – a certain aristh more gloomy than her more reasonable friend. Two 'anyones' stood outside the fighter; Nemsar and a young, smiling pilot.
«This is Farlun,» Nemsar introduced the pilot, ignoring the killing looks his sister honoured him with. And then added, to Farlun; «You know your orders?»
«Yes, Prince Nemsar,» Farlun confirmed. He had a natural twinkle in his stalks. «Take the youngsters to the Daybreak, and return to the BladeSwipe. This will be one of my easiest assignments.»
«Obviously, pilot, you don't know me very well,» Larynia snapped.
«Be nice,» Nemsar ordered.
She raised her tail. «Why should I?»
Estrid rolled her stalks. She'd been on the BladeSwipe for only two weeks, but she knew this version of Larynia very well. «Do as he says,» she advised. «You don't have to make it worse.»
«How could it get worse?» Larynia demanded, glaring towards her friend.
«Well, if you go on like this it certainly won't get better,» Estrid replied. Then she ignored Larynia and turned to Nemsar. «Thank you,» she said. «For letting me up into space.»
«Thank Larynia, not me,» Nemsar said. «She convinced me.»
Estrid nodded – a habit she didn't know she had – and, heaving up her small sac over her shoulder, walked towards the fighter.
«Just do me one favour,» Nemsar called after her. «Do not go and get yourself killed.»
Estrid smiled back at him with a stalk. «I'll do my best.»
«'Get yourself killed'?» Larynia repeated. «Easier said than done, if we're supposed to hang around the home world!»
«You know why I chose the Daybreak,» Nemsar sighed. «Not because of where it is stationed. Because that's where your friends are.»
«So instead of two of us being bored, all three will be? Thanks, Nemsar, that's really appreciated.»
«Prince Nemsar,» Nemsar corrected sternly.
Larynia ignored that.
«Someone's in an especially bad mood today,» Farlun commented suddenly, laughing softly.
«Bad mood?» Nemsar replied, eyebrows raised. «She's right; you don't know her.»
Larynia glared at Farlun, who laughed, eyes twinkling. «My wife's like that sometimes,» he said. «She usually gets over it.» Then he got serious; eyes suddenly sad, face grim. «Last time, it was about me accepting to be posted in Kelbrid territory. That is an argument she will not get over easily. Afraid I won't be coming home again. But even if I did, by some miracle, return, she would probably kill me.»
Larynia glared at him. But quickly turned and glared at Nemsar. Glared some extra, as if to make a point out of it. But then her eyes softened, her tail sank down slowly, and she asked; «When will you come back?»
«At the end of the war, probably,» Nemsar said lowly. «If I survive that long. The frontier is a very hazardous place.»
She pawed the floor with a worried front hoof. «Don't you dare get killed,» she warned. (That was her way of saying «take care of yourself».)
Nemsar smiled. «You, too,» he replied. «And keep an eye on Estrid; she's not a warrior, after all.»
Larynia arched her tail up. Her brother did the same and they touched blades. Then she followed Farlun towards the fighter. Being who she was, she didn't turn around once.
Nemsar sighed as the fighter's door closed, and left docking station fifteen with an empty feeling in his heart, which he unsuccessfully tried to fill out with relief. His sister might be annoying, she might at (a lot of) times have the universe's worst temper, but he'd still miss her.
- - -
No Animorphs.
The rumours had spread quickly. The fact was hard to conceal, although the governments and agencies of Earth – and even the Earth Council itself – tried their best to keep things down.
But you could read about it anywhere. In newspapers, tabloids, on the internet… and gossip was unavoidable.
The news were that both Jake and Marco had gone missing. All of a sudden. Marco's disappearance was the most obvious, since he had been the one to keep "out-there", on TV and in the public. But there was a clear connection to Jake's disappearance – at the exact same time.
Andalite tourists heard the news and admitted in thought-speech whispers, stalks jerking nervously back and forth, that there was talk about their Prince Aximili being missing, too – although the War Council furiously denied it. He was out at the front, the Head of Council claimed, with the rest of the Fleet.
Rachel was dead, everyone knew that. Tobias had been missing for years, although the talk about him and what could have happened to him blossomed up again.
The only remaining Animorph was Cassie. But she never left the Hork-Bajir; the poachers were still after Hork-Bajir skin and blades. Even though the guard around their territory had tripled or even quadrupled, there were still poachers around. The only time Cassie's words reached out to the world was when she ferociously published pleas and orders and even threats to the world to make sure it stopped. She might as well have been gone, too, some said, for as much good as she did to anyone outside that alien territory.
The Animorphs were, in essence, all gone. All missing.
There was a group of people who actually were happy about that fact. A group of people, if they really could be called that, that rejoiced silently when no news were heard from any of the missing heroes. Who cheered when yet another killing made Cassie more and more tied to guard her alien friends.
One of them was sitting on a park bench, looking out over the giant hole where the Yeerk pool had been. The crater had been kept unaltered, as a monument of sorts. He was thinking about how foolish humanity was. How inattentive the Animorphs had been. How stupid the Andalites still were.
Of course, the Yeerks hadn't been happy with only one pool. The Yeerks had developed a plan for slow infiltration; tactfulness. That an inconsiderate leader like Visser One had ruined it all didn't change the fact that, yes, of course the Yeerks had spread out. Of course there was another pool. A small one, perhaps, but big enough.
He smiled to himself. Looked down at his watch. He didn't want to miss his plane and be late; he needed to be back at that other pool in a day and a half.