How to escape a ship

Sub-Visser! a voice called from outside. We are under attack!

Aralgo could still see out the window from where he stood, and now bore witness to Carali, Larynia, Minalea and Estrid storming into the docking station, slamming closed and locking the doors behind them. Carali and Estrid were held back by the two warriors Olana had brought and left outside the Phantom, and Larynia turned back to help them, but Minalea continued towards the Phantom's door. Seeing how they fought the Controller warriors made Aralgo certain that they themselves were not Controllers.

That, at least, was a relief.

Olana at first seemed confused, the Yeerk in her head indecisive, but then regained a stern, annoyed expression and snapped; Computer! Close door!

The door slammed shut – but Minalea, quick and nimble as always, had just managed to pass it. She gave her friend a strange look. Olana, what –

The Controller continued without even pausing; Construct force field cage on location –

Minalea, watch out! Aralgo warned, but unnecessarily.

Minalea's eyes had widened in sudden understanding as she took in the scene and what Olana was saying. With a loud curse, she threw herself away from where she had been standing and down to the floor, rolling over her side. She got to her hooves, momentum carrying her purposefully right into Olana – who wasn't quick enough to get out of her way in time. They both tumbled, Minalea springing up more easily and more quickly than her infested friend.

Don't think that's the first time someone tries to trap me in a force field, Minalea spat. But her voice held a taint of strained sadness. She had the end of Olana's tail secured under a front hoof. The infested aristh was still on the floor, unmoving because of the blade at her throat.

And Olana's hateful glare at Minalea was almost as sharp as that blade.

Yeerk, I presume, Minalea said in a carefully controlled voice.

Very perceptive, Olana congratulated nonchalantly. She sounded almost bored. Yes, I am a Yeerk. Tarst 1462, Sub-Visser 17. You, on the other hand, are only aristh Mina–

I know who I am, Minalea snarled. So hush. She turned a stalk towards the computer and directed her voice there. Computer, open door.

There was no response except the wickedly amused twinkle in Olana's stalks.

She's reprogrammed the ship, Aralgo informed Minalea in a low voice. It only listens to her.

Minalea let out a few choice curses, before turning back towards Olana. Open that door, she ordered.

Olana simply smiled innocently. Why?

Minalea seemed lost. Her stalks swept around to look out the window; the two guards Tarst 1469 had brought were both unconscious. Larynia was standing close to the ship, but Carali and Estrid were by the entrance to the docking station, and even over that distance their worry was easily seen. Minalea thought at once about their pursuers, and the infested FO Jarathur, and knew why. If the door out to the corridor opened too soon… there'd be trouble. The docking station and the Phantom, their refuge, would turn into a dead-end trap.

Minalea! Larynia called. Let us in, and quickly!

I wish I could, Minalea replied. But Olana has taken over the ship. It ignores the rest of us completely!

Then tell Olana to open the door!

She's not cooperating either. She is… Minalea took a deep breath. I believe she is a Controller. At least she claims so. And behaves so.

Stunned silence from outside. Then; So threaten her.

I'm not much good at threats, Larynia, you know that.

Well, now is an excellent opportunity to learn! Larynia snarled.

Where is Aralgo? Estrid asked.

In here, Aralgo told her, deciding he could speak for himself. In a force field cage. The computer does not listen to orders from inside a force field cage, not even if Olana hadn't been dumb enough to add a program allowing her to –

There must be a backup, Larynia interrupted. Olana always has backups. If something backfires. Always. Minalea, isn't that so?

Olana puts a backup in anything she programs, Minalea agreed. She looked down at her friend, who didn't even shift expression, the Yeerk refusing to betray any thoughts or emotions about what was being said.

If there is a backup, then find it, and quickly! came Carali's urgent suggestion. They are close to opening these doors, and if they do we will have a problem! Or, more properly, a good dozen of them.

Computer, shift command to all registered crewmembers, Minalea ordered.

Nothing happened.

Try it manually, Aralgo suggested, pacing his small cage as his tail whipped behind him and his eyes darted between the docking station outside, the computer consoles, and the two female arisths.

Minalea bullied Olana up on her hooves and made her come along to the consoles, keeping both stalks on the Controller's tail and her blade still at the Controller's throat. She focused her main eyes on the consoles and placed her right hand on a control pad.

This is aristh Minalea-Silinan-Alareim, she announced. Shift command to all registered crew members.

"Access denied" flashed on a hologram above her hand.

Ah, Olana leered. The marvels of technology.

Shut up, Yeerk, Aralgo growled. Your fun is over.

That from someone inside a force field cage! Minalea laughed, as if forgetting which side she was supposed to be on. Aralgo glared irritably at her, but she only looked back calmly, amused, and leaned her head to the side, eyes shining. It fits you. Why didn't I ever think of it?

Oh no, Carali sighed from outside the ship. Add "sudden force field cages" to Minalea's list of pranks. And I thought the rapidly closing doors were bad.

Could we PLEASE focus? Larynia wondered, her voice dangerously sweet.

Right, Minalea agreed and again turned to the control pad. Computer; open door.

"Access denied" flashed again.

Olana laughed, and said; Let me show you something. Computer, name all authorized commanders.

A list – a hologram – appeared. It had one, single name; Olana's.

Minalea looked frustrated. Without warning, she swivelled around and kicked at the console with a back hoof, crying; But Olana's been infested, you stupid computer!

The holographic list disappeared. Another appeared in its place, and it simply said; "Code accepted. Command redirected".

Olana had turned just a bit pale, her shoulders slumped down just enough to give her a slightly defeated appearance.

Minalea glared suspiciously at her infested friend, and turned back to the console still wearing that suspicious look. Computer, open door, she tried.

The door opened without question. A sceptic Larynia entered, her stalks sweeping over the scene. She beckoned for Estrid and Carali to follow.

Minalea? Aralgo said amiably. Would you care to let me out?

Truthfully… no, Minalea responded, her eyes sparkling mischievously, her usual playful mood returning with the control of the ship.

Let me out!

Carali gave Minalea a reprimanding look, and then said; Computer, remove force field around location C5.

Nothing happened. A slow smile appeared in Minalea's eyes. I think command was reverted to me… The smile broadened. Computer, construct force –

Minalea! Carali protested, taking a quick step back in order to be somewhere else.

Minalea only laughed.

Fix the list of authorized commanders back to normal, Minalea, Larynia said.

Minalea grimaced. You're no fun. Not one of you. Very well – computer, arisths Aralgo-Karfur-Emonrili, Carali-Sarthantir-Malar and Larynia-Talene-Sirinial are authorized for command, as well as scientist Estrid-Corill-Darrath.

Remove force field at location C5, was Carali's first command, and to his relief the computer obeyed.

The force field fell away, and the second person to be relieved was Aralgo. He joined Minalea by the consoles, keeping a careful eye on the glowering Olana.

Estrid turned to close the door out to the docking station, feeling much safer once it was done.

Well then, Carali said. I believe we are done here. Time to leave – and the sooner, the better, I should say.

I couldn't agree more, Carali, Larynia murmured. She glanced down at Olana. That is not supposed to happen. And I want to be long gone by the time someone schedules a rerun.

You can't leave, Olana informed them haughtily. Do you truly think they will open those doors and allow you to launch? You are even dumber than –

In a flash Larynia was by the Controller, had swept a clumsily shielding tail away and used her own blade, placed just below Olana's chin, to press the Controller back against the wall.

You can shut up, Yeerk, she hissed. To begin with. And moreover, you are going to come out of my friend's head. NOW.

And if I refuse? the Yeerk wondered, unimpressed.

Larynia's face was as motionless as if it had been set in stone.

What are you going to do? taunted the Controller. Cut poor Olana's throat? No. No, no no, I don't think so. You wouldn't do that.

There was a slight flash of bitterness in Larynia's eyes that proved the Yeerk correct. Carali noted it, and gently pushed Larynia aside, replacing her blade with his own.

She wouldn't, perhaps, he said lowly, ignoring Larynia's glare. But I would. You were given an order, Yeerk. Follow it.

So you can cut me apart and do a happy little dance of joy that your friend is 'freed'? the Controller replied acidly. Not likely. No, I'd rather stay in here, listening to your friend's broken weeping, and wait for my fellow Yeerks to show up. Because they will.

Not if we're no longer here, Estrid said, speaking up after having been silent.

You're not going anywhere, snarled the Yeerk, but without letting Olana's eyes leave Carali's acidic expression. Not one of you.

You still have a head to leave, Carali reminded the Controller. And I shall, as a gesture of good will, give you to the count of ten to do so. Only after that I'll resort to cutting you out.

How kind, Olana murmured.

Ten, Carali began.

Count as much as you like. I'm not going anywhere.

Carali's blade quivered, something steely came into his eyes and his voice was lowered as he continued; Nine.

Carali, are you serious? Minalea asked, sending her thought-speech to everyone except Olana.

Of course I'm serious, he replied, in open thought-speech. Eight.

You'll… cut her throat? Minalea wondered.

I'll do what I have to. Seven.

Minalea and Larynia exchanged a glance, and Estrid frowned slightly. Aralgo didn't move, but his stalks flickered concern. Larynia spoke; You can't do that, Carali.

Six, Carali said, and then demanded; Why not? What else did you have in mind? Leave her behind? Leave her for them?

Take her with us.

Five, Carali counted. And how do you suppose to do that, with that Yeerk? We can't bring a Controller with us! We can't. She'd be a liability… a problem, and a danger. Especially since she can so easily turn the entire ship against us!

We would guard her carefully, Larynia said.

It would only be for three days, Minalea added.

Four, Carali said firmly.

Olana's expression had, while Carali spoke, very quickly gone from humoured to unsettled. The Yeerk didn't dare try to break away, but he didn't seem so sure of himself any more, and the uncertainty broke through to his host's face.

You can't be serious, Larynia stated. You can't cut her throat.

Carali, think, Minalea began. Exactly –

Three. You better come out now, Yeerk.

You can't! Larynia roared.

Two. Only one more to –

But before Carali had a chance to even finish the thought, Larynia had darted forward and her tail arched down towards him. Minalea came from the other direction, and Carali had to pull back and duck. Aralgo dove forwards to help him so quickly that one could suspect that he had just been waiting for something like that to happen.

And suddenly Olana was unguarded. She quickly moved for the door. Carali, Estrid couldn't stop the Controller for Aralgo, Minalea and Larynia were in her way. So Olana placed her hand on the lock pad, looking very pleased, and gave the order to open the door.

It was a gloomy group that was found by Rachel and Tobias later that morning.

Jake had begun worrying, and as he looked up and saw them coming, he let out a sigh of relief. "Finally." He was human for the moment. KEdi'ir was still on a branch above him, but he only acknowledged Rachel's presence by touching his left shoulder with his right hand and then went back to keeping watch.

"We were delayed," Rachel explained (and repeated it in Kelbrid for KEdi'ir's benefit). She'd been riding on Tobias's Andalite back again, finding that a comforting way to travel compared to walking, but now returned to the ground and her own two feet so he could demorph.

By each other, or someone else? Marco questioned, grinning a gorilla grin.

"None of your business, Marco," Rachel snapped.

What, can't I even ask?

"Not if you're fond of being able to ask," she said, and patted Tom's neck as he came up to her side; he had done some scouting.

But I was just –

"I advice you to be quiet, Marco," Jeanne murmured from beside him.

I was just wondering, Marco complained.

"Wondering can be bad for your health," Jeanne pointed out.

Hey, I happen to be a gorilla, Marco informed her. There is very little that could actually be bad for my hea – But he stopped speaking there, turning a suspicious head and two narrowed eyes towards Rachel, who was nonchalantly drumming her fingers against Tom's back. The beast was glaring at Marco. The gorilla looked back towards Jeanne. Maybe I should be quiet now.

"Maybe you should," Jeanne agreed.

"So what did delay you?" Jake asked.

Kelbrid, Tobias replied.

"They had a kii-raja, to keep Tom busy, so they were even more annoying than usual," Rachel added.

Tom bore the marks of that encounter. Jake was decently sure the kii-raja had never been actually wounded by their encounters with Kelbrid or Hork-Bajir, but now one ear was bleeding, he had teeth marks over his left shoulder and front leg, and three parallel cuts stretched across his face. He also seemed to be limping.

"Oh, the poor little darling," Jeanne murmured, closing in on the kii-raja to examine the hurts. Marco rolled his eyes.

"Menderash's missing," Jake announced.

"But he went with Jeanne, and she's here," Rachel said, frowning. "What happened?"

She decided to leave him behind, Marco informed her amiably.

Whatever for? Tobias wondered. I know he isn't the best of company, but…

"Didn't want to risk him collapsing, to begin with," Jeanne explained, scratching Tom's throat and regarding the way the kii-raja stretched his head up and back for her to reach more easily. "And I thought that if there were Touched here and we'd have to turn and run, he'd slow us down, so it was better to leave him somewhere until I'd investigated if it was safe. When we went to fetch him he was gone."

Tobias fluttered up to a branch. Any ideas where he might have gone?

Jake sighed, spreading his arms wide. Then turned to Rachel. "You said the Touched were more likely to kill us on sight and ask questions later, right?"

Rachel nodded, but warily.

"So if the Touched had found him, we'd have found his body. Correct?"

Rachel nodded again. "But the Kelbrid have taken more and more to capturing live prisoners since the Yeerks showed up," she said. "No live Kelbrid prisoners, but now and again a garek – a non-Kelbird – will show up, and those might be captured alive and given to the Yeerks."

"That still means he's on the Blade ship."

The Blade ship might be a hard target, Santorelli pointed out.

It was the target from the beginning, though, Marco reminded them. We're still after a way to help Ax – even if that's been momentarily forgotten in all our failed attempts to steal our ship back. Lovely prioritizing we've done, don't you agree?

"Maybe it would be easier now," Rachel said thoughtfully.

How? Tobias asked.

"Melissa."

Ehm, Rachel? Marco said, sounding grave.

"Yes?"

The battle back there. The holographic ship – the fake Rachel. That was all a carefully set trap. My guess; Melissa was behind it.

"No," Rachel disagreed. "No, that –"

Face facts, Rach; he might be right, Tobias murmured softly from up on his perch. The faces of the others ranged from grim to sympathetic.

But Rachel shook her head fiercely. "No. No, not at all. If Melissa'd been behind that, they'd have had kii-rajas. Melissa knows about Tom. She's smart enough to have told them, and they'd have been ready for a kii-raja. They weren't."

"Doesn't prove anything…" Jeanne muttered. Tom had again abandoned her to return to Rachel, who was now stroking his back and tail.

"They knew we went after the Rachel before," Rachel said. "They probably just figured we'd try it again."

But standing around here won't help Menderash, Santorelli cut in. We need to do something. Rachel? Can your kii-raja track him?

Rachel shrugged. "Perhaps. With all the rain that's fallen, I'm not so sure – but perhaps."

Probably a waste of time anyway, Marco commented. We'd only be led to the Blade ship. Infiltrating that takes time, effort and a whole lot of guts. And he added brightly; We've got everything we need except time.

"Then where've you stashed the guts?" Jeanne asked.

I'm saving them for a special occasion.

Jake gave his friend a reprimanding glance, and Marco made a face. Jake had completely lost his sense of humour.

So what do we end up doing? Santorelli wondered softly.

Jake's expression twisted into a grimace and he clenched and unclenched his hands at his sides. "What can we do?"

"Infiltrate the Blade ship," Rachel suggested eagerly.

"Or blow it up," Jeanne offered, eyes glittering.

Jeanne? The objective is to free Menderash and Ax. Not send them to an early grave, Marco explained with fake patience.

"You blew up the Yeerk pool," Jeanne reminded him.

So we did. But we had a good reason. A good plan. And lots of spare explosives.

"But –"

Did I mention the need for explosives? A good plan? And besides, we're kinda out of subways.

Jake shook his head. "There's one thing we need to do before that. Report back to Sira'aki and JaLa'an. Return KEdi'ir. See if LuRi'il and Arnaha can be of any help. Plus, with Menderash caught, we need to move camp – and probably the fighters, too. Marco? You know Menderash best."

Marco grumped an inaudible response to that.

"They'll of course want to get out what's in his head. If they infest him, there's nothing anyone can do, but let's say they don't. The One is probably involved, so… they try to make him talk. How long would he be able to keep quiet?"

As long as he feels the need to, Marco grumbled. Jake, he's an Andalite warrior, from the Fleet, and although that makes him an arrogant bastard complete with all accessories, it also makes him very dutiful, very loyal. He won't say a word – too damn proud.

Everyone has their breaking point, Santorelli pointed out.

Ax's was – is – his pride, Tobias said in a quiet voice. I wouldn't want to get between Ax and his pride. And he added wryly; Or Ax and his cinnabon, for that matter.

You know, Marco said, now that you mention it, I realise that the Visser must have known. He morphed human a few times. It's a wonder the Yeerks never tried to bribe us into submission. With ice cream or something.

Rachel actually laughed.

I mean, Ax would have fallen for it head-first, Marco continued. Wave a cinnabon in front of his nose and he'd have followed anyone straight into the pool itself. And I'd feel sorry for the one of us that had try to stop him.

"Ky'y i'art yanu'uth'u siriv di'tas kii-raja kos lke'el cer," Rachel said happily.

Curious eyes turned towards her, some of them blinking in confusion. KEdi'ir, though, who had heard and understood both Tobias's and Marco's thought-speech and Rachel's words, was making that rumbling sound in his throat that might have been laughter.

Rachel seemed to blush for a moment, but it quickly disappeared. "Sorry. Forgot. It's just an expression the Kelbrid have – word for word, it means it's unwise to get between a kii-raja and his master. But it also means that you should be careful about where you try to intervene."

They all gave her more or less odd looks, but she ignored them all, scratching Tom's healthy ear as if to remind them that he was there.

Jake finally shook his head. "This is leading us nowhere," he stated, frustration appearing suddenly on his face. "We are returning to the Kelbird now. Then we're… probably going to have to infiltrate the Blade ship."

Jeanne and Rachel both broke into happy smiles. Marco rolled his eyes.

Olana gave the order for the door to open, but it refused.

Estrid had moved forwards by then and her tail flew towards the Controller's head. Olana tried to fend the blow off with her own blade, but failed, and slumped together, unconscious. The other arisths were a jumble of flaying hooves, flashing tails and… and if they didn't come to their senses soon, something was bound to break. Estrid wasn't sure if it would be worse if a computer console broke, or one of the arisths.

CEASE THAT IMMEDIATELY! she roared, with a tone a member of the War Council would have been proud of, STOP IT! BREAK IT UP! NOW! The thoughts were projected so loudly it felt like a hammer to even her own head, and made her dizzy from the sharp pain.

Aralgo and Minalea backed off, warily glancing towards the scientist, but when Carali tried to back away Larynia followed. Estrid leapt in between the two. She received a furious stare from Larynia, and almost had a stalk severed by a tail-blade that had been aimed at Carali and stopped in the nick of time, but at least the younger female made no attempt to get past.

That was the most inept thing I've ever seen, said the scientist lowly.  Her eyes and stalks were blazing as she glared at Larynia, before turning the same infuriated stare towards Minalea, Aralgo and Carali. What were you thinking? She almost escaped. Lucky for us command is still set to us, but not Olana.

And suddenly you're taking the place of our superior, Larynia snarled back. Who appointed you to Prince?

Estrid felt her tail-blade quivering. I'm not a Prince, she said, but neither is any one of you. You're all arisths, and from this, I'd say you're all incompetent. We're all in this mess together, whether we like it or not, and starting to fight amongst ourselves is the last thing we should be doing.

Minalea glowered at Carali, at least as furious as Estrid. He was going to cut her throat. No-one cuts the throat of one of my friends and gets away with it.

Mine neither, Larynia added, staring defiantly back at the scientist while her stalks shot daggers at Carali.

It was only a ploy, Carali said lowly. He felt his shoulder, where Larynia's blade had cut off a decent bit of skin and flesh in an attempt to get at his head. He had a slash on his flank as well, although he wasn't sure who it was from. Then he grimaced, gave Minalea and Larynia an evaluating look each, and considered it safe to morph.

Minalea and Larynia stared at him.

What? Minalea said finally.

A ploy, Carali repeated.

You were bluffing? Larynia asked.

Of course he was bluffing, Estrid snarled. He told me so. And it would have worked, too, if you two hadn't interrupted. Of all the senseless, incom –

You could have told us, Larynia said, ignoring Estrid.

A kafit bird was slowly taking Carali's place. No. No, I needed real reactions. If I'd told you it was a ploy, Olana would have figured it out from the looks on your faces. And then it wouldn't have worked.

It didn't work now, either, Minalea countered.

How was I supposed to know you two would get so wound up? And once I'd started, I couldn't very well stop halfway, could I? And I couldn't tell you, because that would have shown on your faces as well.

Was it so hard to guess? Minalea snapped.

Was it so hard to guess it was only an act? Carali snapped back. Or do you really think I'd be ruthless enough –

But that's what we're taught, Aralgo reminded them all lowly. Ruthlessness. According to the Law, Carali, you should have cut Olana's throat. And you've always been keen to follow the rulebook, everyone knows that.

I'm not sure I'd go quite that far, Carali protested, demorphing back to Andalite. If the Law told me to jump out an airlock, I'm not sure I'd do that, either.

I would, Minalea grinned, giving Carali a playful look that, together with a light touch on his shoulder, at once settled the peace between at least them. That is, if the Law told me not to, I would.

That's because you're crazy, Aralgo said casually.

Hey!

But, Minalea, Larynia said softly, stalks twinkling with amusement. He's right.

He's right? Oh, great. I'm just warning you, there'll be trip-wires everywhere to make you both pay for that one…

We are wasting time, Estrid reminded them, shifting her weight nervously from hoof to hoof. And unless we all want to end up like Olana, we've got no time to waste. Minalea? Aralgo? Can either of you pilot this ship? I'm not much of a pilot, and I'm not sure I understand this computer.

I am an expert at making ships bump into each other, Minalea admitted hesitantly. If that counts as 'piloting'…

I can fly it, Aralgo offered.

Good, Estrid said. Take command. All energy possible diverted to the engines. We are leaving.

The doors out into space are still closed, Carali mentioned.

Estrid gave him an unconcerned look. His expression switched to a partly horrified and partly surprised one, all four eyes going wide and his face tensing with realisation.

You're not serious, he breathed. Through the doors?

Estrid nodded. Larynia exchanged a glance with Aralgo, and Minalea let out a nervous laugh.

Through? Carali repeated.

Yes, Estrid confirmed. Or do you have a better idea? If you do, hurry up and tell us.

Carali didn't. Aralgo had already taken his place by the consoles.

Actually, he said. I have a better idea. Less energy to the engines, we can't fire them up properly in here anyway without risking engine damage – and a third of the ship burnt to dust. Not to mention what the hull will look like after impact with that door. The best way is to fire with both shredders at the door, while keeping our shields up to protect the ship, and then leave through the weakened metal. The door isn't made to take a direct hit from the inside. Especially not at this range.

Minalea blinked, almost looking downcast. I liked Estrid's idea more. I like the head-on, smash-to-pieces approach for this dilemma.

The only thing that would've been smashed to pieces is us, Aralgo muttered, focusing on his task. And the Phantom. Even if we could – theoretically – fly through the doors, this docking station doesn't leave us the space we need to gather enough momentum, speed and power to do so. My way, the ship will not be damaged.

Then go ahead, Estrid said.

Everyone ready? Aralgo wondered, taking a deep breath.

They were, and Aralgo set his plan into motion.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Author's Note;

Finally finished. Came home to a chapter I hadn't even begun typing up from paper, and school that started all too soon (as it tends to do) so it took a while. Hope it was worth the wait. Next one will be up… later. Hm. I'm not back in the habit of spending half my time typing yet.

One more thing. In more ambitious moment during my vacation, drew picture of kii-raja. Drew it too small compared to Rachel (should be just a bit taller), but it'll have to do. Point is, that in proud-of-self-moment after coming back home, I also scanned picture of kii-raja. So if anyone wants a peek at how the beast is actually supposed to look (the description in chapter 7 left a lot to be desired, I know) you could mail me, and I'll send it. Then you'll understand better why Marco is developing a healthy respect for the beast. (Of course, one needs to remember that Marco sees him in another way; glaring and snarling. But I can't draw glaring and snarling.)