Chapter 13

Tobias and I walked past the Sub-Visser and into what I assumed was her personal ship. It was considerably smaller than the Blade ship, with only two separate compartments: a cargo hold, which was stocked with containers, and the bridge which had one central elevated chair, two on each side on that, and two more in front, each one with an integrated station.

It was not a vessel designed for Andalites.

"Just sit down somewhere and don't get in the way!" Sub-Visser Thirteen exclaimed, brushing past me and storming onto the bridge.

She ordered my Hork-Bajir-morphed friends to take the four consoles flanking the elevated one that was, naturally, hers.

Outside, the battle between Visser Three and the Hork-Bajir continued apace, as reinforcements poured in to the hangar from the main pool complex, with Chapman fearfully shouting orders over the sound of the weapons fire and the Hork-Bajir screams.

We could see all of this on a small virtual window on the right wall of the Sub-Visser's ship. The Sub-Visser herself was moving from each of the four computer stations at which Prince Jake, Rachel, Tobias and Marco were sitting, and Cassie was sat down along a wall, next to Prince Jake. Sub-Visser Thirteen appeared to be instructing my friends in the use of her computers.

Then she whirled around to myself and Alloran, who was staring in terror at the screen showing Visser Three's slaughter of the Hork-Bajir.

"We shall take off as soon as the Visser has entered the Blade ship," she announced imperiously. "Once we have achieved orbit, we shall destroy Visser Three's ship, and we shall land."

(I do not wish to sound pessimistic,) I said, (but this vessel appears to be no match for the Blade ship. From what I can see, this is a short-range science craft, and the Blade ship is a vessel built only for war.) I paused for effect. (We will all be killed.)

Sub-Visser Thirteen swaggered past me and placed herself between Alloran and the virtual window.

"And what do you think, host?" she sneered. "Do you think we can defeat Visser Three?"

Alloran glanced up to meet the Sub-Visser's impetuous gaze with a glazed-over expression.

(If we do not destroy Visser Three, he will utterly destroy both Earth, and the Andalite homeworld.) Alloran looked dejectedly to each of us in turn. (We will win, because we must. There is no alternative.)

Sub-Visser Thirteen looked impressed. "You seem to know Visser Three's plan in some detail, for a dementia-affected host," she snickered. "Tell us the rest of it."

(No!) Alloran exclaimed. (I won't, don't make me! I must have Kynareth!)

All eyes were on me.

(It is a form of ritual suicide,) I explained. (Normally reserved for disgraced warriors.)

"He is a disgrace," Sub-Visser Thirteen said with a sneer. "Look at him, a grown Andalite warrior, whimpering like a grub. That is nothing if not disgraceful."

Alloran's eyes suddenly blazed with anger. He started for the Sub-Visser, and raised his blade in a lightning-quick motion for her throat.

The Sub-Visser drew her sidearm.

(Well, this is grown up, isn't it,) Cassie said snidely. (You're not going to solve anything, either of you!)

Sub-Visser Thirteen had a Dracon pistol aimed at Alloran's forehead, and he had his blade a centimetre from her throat. If either of them moved, one or both of them would die.

"Tell us the Visser's plan, or die," Sub-Visser Thirteen said coolly.

(Yeerk scum!) Alloran roared.

(Alloran!) Prince Jake called, walking up the War-Prince in his normal, human body. (I know what you've been through,) he said soothingly. (I've had a Yeerk in my head as well. Marco's mother is Visser One, so he knows what it's like too." Prince Jake looked to me with a nod. "Even Ax has been a host."

I had, just once. When I had fallen afoul of Yamphut, Cassie had Aftran 942 infest me so she could help Cassie perform surgery that saved my life. I did not enjoy the experience, but the end justified the means.

(Lies!) Alloran howled. (You will turn me over to Visser Three!)

"No, but I will slaughter you like an animal if you don't help me," Sub-Visser Thirteen growled.

I looked up at the virtual window. Visser Three was gone, and the starport was silent. I whispered an Andalite prayer for the hundreds of slain Hork-Bajir outside. They were enemies, but their bravery was commendable.

Then, the Sub-Visser's ship shook violently, and a subsonic boom rattled through it. Sub-Visser Thirteen stumbled into her command chair, and gestured angrily for everyone else to return to their stations.

"Visser Three has taken off!" Sub-Visser Thirteen called. "Human!" she roared to Prince Jake. "Pursuit course, now!"

I laughed at the crude way Prince Jake said what Sub-Visser Thirteen could do with her pursuit course, but he placed his hands on the controls of the ship, and blasted us forward, up into an escape tunnel, and seconds later we were in the Earth sky, with the sun slowly setting.

My friends demorphed from Hork-Bajir.

The Blade ship was some way ahead, and gaining distance with every passing second.

The Sub-Visser ran forward to Prince Jake's console, and slapped a few keys, then moved toward me.

"The ship will now pursue Visser Three on its own," she said somewhat proudly.

(To what end?) Alloran asked nervously.

Sub-Visser Thirteen tilted her head slightly and met his gaze directly. "To the Hork-Bajir planet."

"You're kidding!" Marco shrieked. "We're NOT going there!"

The Sub-Visser stood in front of Alloran and placed her hands on her hips.

"We will be fine, so long as Visser Three's leftovers here is prepared to divulge the niceties of his plan."

(On one condition,) Alloran said sternly, trying desperately to keep a firm composure.

"Which is?" the Sub-Visser crooned.

(That I kill Visser Three myself,) he said, spitting out the words as though they were poison. (He has stolen my honour, and his debts must be paid.)

"Your terms are acceptable," Sub-Visser Thirteen purred. "Now, what is the Visser's plan?"

Alloran drew a deep breath. (Visser Three is not going to the homeworld. He is first going to Alpha Centauri, the neighbouring star to this one, to rendezvous with Visser Five and his forces. Then the two of them will travel to the Hork-Bajir planet, lay waste to its defenders, and then assume control of the planet.)

"Wait a second," Rachel said. "Visser Three just butchered a whole army of Hork-Bajir without so much as breaking a sweat. Why does he need help?"

"Because our capital planet is defended by weapons of such power that they make the most powerful human nuclear bombs seem like toys. Visser Three will be shot down before he can land." Sub-Visser Thirteen smiled grimly. "Even he cannot breathe in space."

"So, what's the plan?" Marco asked. "Are we going after Visser Three before he reaches his buddy, or are we going to set a trap?"

Sub-Visser Thirteen sat down on her chair. She pressed a single key, and laughed.

"We will do nothing," she cackled. "I shall take the seven of you to the capital, where I shall hand you over to the Council of Thirteen for infestation."

Alloran walked up to the Sub-Visser and gave her a piercing look. (You shall do nothing,) he said, (if I eviscerate you.)

With that, Alloran drew back his tail and sliced it forward at Sub-Visser Thirteen's throat, and immediately stopped as his blade collided not with the Sub-Visser, but with a phosphorescent shield of orange energy that rippled where his blade impacted. The shield extended spherically around the Sub-Visser and her chair.

"A brave, but futile effort," Sub-Visser Thirteen crowed.

(You've been in league with Visser Three all along, haven't you!) I snarled. (Just to capture us!)

The Sub-Visser looked offended. "Actually, no, I have not," she said crisply. "I do want Visser Three destroyed, and I do want his position, but what I do not want is to be executed for treason by allowing my enemies to do it for me."