Well, the story seems to be moving on. Let's see what we have here…

Quillian: Thanks for you review! I hope you like the next chappie.

Elwing: Don't worry it's not the end. Though by my story-plan it is past midway. And about killing Asculan, we'll see what I feel like when the time comes.
Yeah, about so loudly putting it, (You know the whole permission thing?) That was because I know most authors are very big on that. I don't know about others people but I'd actually feel honoured if someone thought a character I'd made up was good enough to write a story about. But then, I really don't know about other people.

Yeah I agree most of the characters in this fic a cannon. But not ALL are! At least I think hmm….let me check that….
Talk about summer! HAH! It is raining where I am.

The REAL Cheese Monkey: Off goes Alloran! Hurrah hurrah! Bye bye.

Kharina: Yeah, well now that we've had our Battle of the Missing Eyes, lets just settle down. LOL. It's always fun to have little discussions like that.

More tolerant? Well, I think maybe a little bit more desperate actually, but just read on.

Okay people! Next chapter!

Chapter Eighteen

Need

Andalite date: 8564.65

Earth date: 1969

Do you know how desperate and scared one can feel when his closest friends are in danger?

Can you understand the desperate yearning for any small piece of information about them? Feeling desperate to do something and yet helpless, resigned to doing nothing?

For many months I waited for news of Alloran. Of course information did not come easily. I would often have to rely on news passed on by either Feyorn or Breeyar.

It was night and I stood watching the sky. The world seemed to be coated in a soft silvery light as only two moons were out. Somewhere out there two of my closest friends could possibly be dieing a miserable death.

Seerow was gone and I hoped that whoever killed him was being dealt with. My hearts did not mourn very much over Aylary though, I knew that Captain Eoptis had taken her death hard, but then she was his one and only child.

So Captain, I thought. Know you understand what pain I felt over Deodatus.

Deodatus. In truth I was glad he was dead. He would never have to fight the war we were facing.

Many young ones, barely out of school were being pushed to joining the military. Many scientists and doctors were forced to adopt a life of pain and killing.

Do you know what was infuriating?

No? I will tell you.

Many old warriors that had left the military before the war were not being recalled. They were trained. Many of them perfectly healthy, but no, the War-Council would rather use children to fight their wars.

Captain Noorlin had been eased into retirement, though he was very old, so I could understand letting him escape the war. He had a son now, a young male named Elfangor, in a few years he to would be ready to become an aristh and fight in a war that could last centauries.

The sky lit up above me, small blue streaks flew across the black night leaving a trail behind them.

At first I could not understand what they were, but then I realised. Ships! They were heading towards the nearest spaceport. It was most likely that they were simple transport ships or scouts. But I knew I would not be able sleep this night either so I gathered my legs beneath me and started on the fifteen kilometre run towards the spaceport.

My hooves pounded across the soft grass of my home territory as I ran. I leaped over fallen logs and stones; occasionally I would nearly fall into a ditch or hole that I had not seen.

I galloped past others scoops careful not to wake them up from their peaceful dreams.

A river! I stopped suddenly. I knew that just before me ran the Ralek River. Andalites can swim when it is necessary but generally we prefer to stay dry.

I knew that further down the banks of the Ralek there was a crossing but I wanted to get to the spaceport before the warriors started going about their duties.

It was strange to admit it but I had acquired a deep fear, almost, of warriors. Well, actually, any full grown male. Often when I needed to go to areas that I knew were filled with others I would always make sure to go there when I knew very few would be present.

Perhaps I was becoming a coward. Or perhaps I just generally liked not being mocked and stared at. You may decide.

I took a deep breath and launched myself into the freezing waters of the Ralek. The ice water seeped through my fur soaking me to the bone. My hooves scrabbled for any perches on the rocky riverbed.

This was insane! The current was much stronger than the last time I had been forced to cross through the river. I could hardly move forwards at all!

Water rushed at me. Threatening to drown me without a second thought.

(Ahhhh!) my hooves lost their hold and the current won, seizing me; I was swept down the river. At last I gathered enough strength to pull myself wearily out of the rushing ice water.

(Stupid! Stupid!) I berated myself. (Why did you do that, fool? You should have known. Your pointless arrogance nearly killed you!)

I shook myself heavily. I was only a few metres away from where I had intended to cross, so I would not lose any time. But still, the reality shook me; I very nearly could have died.

I promised myself then, standing on the banks of the Ralek, never to allow arrogance to cloud my judgement. Soaking wet, muddy and angry I continued my journey towards the spaceport.

Eventually I reached it, the spaceport I mean, there were many more people around than I expected. Most were doctors rushing towards two transports and one fighter.

And there, standing surrounded by a group of others I recognised as the highest ranking captain-princes, he stood tall and proud, tail blade raised high.

Alloran!

I stooped and stood behind one of the transports, out of view.

Captain Ellemar was angry, (Enough Prince! Warrior Lirem? You will go and contact the Electorate to smooth over what must be some very windswept feathers.)

The warrior, Lirem, bowed his head. (Yes, sir,) he said quietly.

(Why?) Alloran snapped suddenly. (Our core mission was to stop the infestation of the Hork-Bajir. Am I right?)

(You are bordering on insubordination. We … do not wipe out other sentient species,) Captain Ellemar said, his voice rising.

(Well…with no due respect…Captain, that's just plain stupid,) Alloran started to shout.

(War-Prince -) Captain Ellemar started.

(And since the Electorate won't do anything to stop the Yeerk Plague we have no choice!) Alloran continued.

(War-Prince, I -)

(We have NO choice but to TAKE any steps we need to GET what we need!) Alloran all but bellowed.

(As long as I am in command of the fleet we will hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards,) Captain Ellemar said with professional cool.

(And when the Yeerks wipe us out because we have allowed them to take whatever they need…I am sure we'll all feel great about ourselves and our HIGH MORAL STANDARDS!) Alloran raged.

(War-Prince Alloran, you are out of line. Now stand down,) Captain Ellemar commanded.

A deadly silence befell the group. Alloran tensed as if ready to attack the captain. But then, his shoulders sagged and his tail drooped. Suddenly he didn't look like a fearsome war-prince; he just looked old and tired. He lowered his head and looked towards the ground.

Captain Ellemar sighed, (War-Prince Alloran, I am hereby relieving you of command. You are to report to the War-Council's chambers and stay there until I command.)

(No holding cell, sir?) Alloran sneered, his head still hanging low, it looked as if he was talking to the ground.

(That could very well be your next stop if you say another word, War-Prince. Now - go. Warrior Sofor? Escort him. And Sofor? You are no longer under War-Prince Alloran's command. Understood?) Captain Ellemar's face was unreadable. He hid his emotions much better that Captain Eoptis.

(Understood,) Sofor muttered with a worried glance at his former commander.

Captain Ellemar marched past me though if he knew I had been watching I do not know.

I stole once last look at Alloran and wondered what he had done to make Captain Ellemar so angry. I looked at Alloran, unhidden madness in his eyes and wondered what had the war done to my friend. Where was the Alloran I remembered?

I stood grazing outside of my scoop. At first I didn't recognise who it was, but, as he drew near I was sure. It was him. It was Captain Eoptis.

(Asculan,) he greeted formally. His purple fur shone under the light of the setting suns. Even now he looked exactly the same as the first day I had met him.

(What is this, a joke, Captain?) I asked stiffly. You see, somehow the idea of having a person, who I was sure was very mad, in my scoop did not sound very appeasing. (What are you doing here?)

(Well, in a way you invited me,) he answered, ignoring the hidden insult. Though I could see he noticed it the way his ears lifted slightly up and flared.

I cocked my head so I could get a better picture of him, (Come to gloat about Alloran's disgrace have you?)

(May I enter your territory?) He asked, again ignoring my comment. Somehow the humble way, if you could call it that, he was acting started to annoy me. I knew it was not his real self and that he wanted something from me.

(No,) I snapped briskly. (I am in no way obligated to put up with you any more.)

Captain Eoptis began to look angry, and yet he forced himself to remain calm, another oddity. (I think you'll want to hear what I have to offer you.)

What game was he playing? Offer me? What did he have to offer me? (Offer?)

He said nothing but gave a barely conceivable nod of his eye stalks. I did the same and steeped back, allowing him to enter my scoop. In silence we walked towards the covered area. I could feel that he was tense and in truth, so was I.

(May I drink?) He asked looking at the small puddle that was in the corner of my scoop.

(No, you won't be here that long,) I said. (What's this about?)

I had learned to be very weary of Captain Eoptis. He was a snake and could turn on you at any minute. After all, he had taught the disgraced War-Prince Alloran. Butcher of the Hork-Bajir.

Yes, I had learned of the quantum virus Alloran had been forced to unleash. I did not like his decision. That did not mean I did not approve of it.

A quantum virus is an advanced simulated-life program. It is composed of tiny airborn units that are structured like viruses: they are programmed to break down, at a sub-atomic level, the life form they have been specified toward.

Many Hork-Bajir were destroyed by such a virus.

Alloran's virus.

(Well, needless to say, I understand that you must be desperate to help our cousins,) Captain Eoptis said suddenly.

(Oh really?) I said cautiously

(I still talk with Feyorn and Breeyar, Asculan,) Captain Eoptis reminded me.

I was growing angry and tense, (Get to the point.)

Suddenly Captain Eoptis looked at me with a burning passion, (What if I told you that I could help you?)

(Help me?)

Captain Eoptis lent close, we were only centimetres apart, (Yes. What if I told you I could get you re-entered into active service? In command of a ship in under a year? For the good of the People.)

I laughed, (If I believed you would do that I would have to think that obviously you must be losing the war.)

Captain Eoptis narrowed his eyes, (You need this, Asculan.)

(Get out. Not interested,) I snapped. In truth I was, but I didn't trust the captain any more than I trusted a Yeerk.

He turned and climbed up the incline that led out of the scoop. He then turned back with one last glance, (Come to me when you feel guilty enough.)

One day later I stood staring at my guide tree. I looked at my scoop and then at the horizon, beyond which the War-Council Headquarters lay. I made a decision and headed off.

(What took you so long?) Captain Eoptis asked as I entered his office. (Frankly I thought you'd feel guilty a little faster than you did.)

I snorted, (Not quiet the student of vecol behaviour you thought you were, Captain?)

He looked angry and said bluntly (Are you ready to go?)

I looked at Captain Eoptis in the main eyes and said, (I have some questions…)

(I can't tell you much,) Captain Eoptis cut in.

(You expect me to follow you blind?) I realised the pun the second the word left my mind.

(Are you interested in the War-Council's offer or not?) He said. He had a triumphant look on his face as he stared at me, as if he knew exactly what I'd do. This was one of the things that annoyed me.

I looked away and said quietly (I'm interested.)

A wide sneering smile came across his face, (Good. I want to be sure you understand one thing, Asculan. We are losing, the Yeerks are winning. If the People find out that won't make us look too good, now, I asked for you to be reinstated because you, like Alloran, will do the right thing. Not the good thing. I taught you to well to do otherwise.)

I smiled wearily. He was a good teacher that Captain Eoptis.

Well, that was a very talkative chapter. Please REVIEW!