With the Yautja warriors imprisoned except for Lex, the Andalites went back to their ship. "My assistant Elfangor will be with you at all times," Alloran told her. Lex eyed the younger Andalite warrior. His fur was a darker blue complexion and his face gave a more friendlier disposition. "You may speak to me in your language. I will understand you," Elfangor told her.
Lex came aboard the highly lit ship and quickly realized the Andalites were touching buttons and objects she couldn't see. Her vision wouldn't allow her to see ultra-violet light but the two stalk eyes on the top of their heads allowed the Andalites to see it easily. The ship halls and rooms were designed bigger for the larger bulk of the Andalite body. The floor also had an almost grassy texture allowing the Andalite hooves to grip it instead of sliding across the floor.
Once the Yautja warriors were secure, the Andalite ship descended towards the planet.
The Prince and his warriors numbering a dozen were becoming quickly surrounded by hundreds of Yeerk infested Hork Bajir. "Switch to war mode. Shoot to kill," the Prince ordered his warriors. The cyborg Yautja was the most powerful of the group firing plasma at any target that moved. The plasma bursts were numerous enough to create a small forest fire. Hork Bajir were trapped in the flames and then consumed. Without the ship in orbit, the Yautja warriors couldn't see anything passed their line of sight.
Finally, the Hork Bajir broke through the lines and forced the Yautja to fight in hand to hand combat. The cyborg Yautja used twin swords and beheaded some of the Hork Bajir while rotating his robotic hips. As the battle became more intense the cyborg Yautja ran off away from the rest of the warriors. The Prince saw him leave and fired on him for deserting. Missing his target, the Prince concentrated on the battle at present.
Alloran's ship landed on the planet within the giant trees to give it some cover. Alloran and his warriors exited the ship and after a small pause several of the Andalites began morphing into monkey like creatures that upon touching the trees changed colors camouflaging themselves. Alloran then eyed a computer telling him the locations of Hork Bajir villages from transmissions given to him by the dome ship in orbit.
"I need this Hork Bajir village evacuated here," Alloran said broadcasting his thoughts to Lex and Elfangor.
"What will you do?" Lex asked Alloran.
"We will wait until we receive intelligence on what is happening in that forest fire," Alloran said.
Lex didn't like the delay but Alloran was being cautious for good reasons. Lex, Elfangor, and a few other Andalite warriors got on a transport that sped through the forest. The transport required that each Andalite be securely strapped to the sides of the transport to avoid having their tails slice each other open. "How did your species evolve? You look like a combination of three Earth animals," Lex said to Elfangor.
"Some have induced that our species must have been designed," Elfangor replied.
"Designed by whom?" Lex wondered.
"According to the myths an entity called an Ellimist created our species to keep peace and order in the galaxy," Elfangor replied.
"Is the Ellimist a god?" Lex asked.
"Some say he is but others say he is just a being farther evolved than we are. There are many living gods in this universe," Elfangor said.
"Tell me about them," Lex asked curiously.
"There is one that worships death itself and in order to please death has pledged to destroy all life in the universe," Elfangor mentioned.
"How can one worship death?"
"Just as beings worship life I suppose."
The transport arrived at the village and were surprised to see the female Andalite Andrea and the Seer Dak. The Andalites raised their weapons not knowing whether they were controllers or not. Lex used her mask to analyze temperature readings inside their heads. "They are clear," she said.
Andrea's tail relaxed upon seeing Elfangor. "You are the daughter of Prince Seerow," he said.
"Prince Seerow and the rest of my family is dead," Andrea said back.
Elfangor bowed his head to convey his sympathy. "What is the situation here?"
"The Yeerks have captured hundreds of Hork Bajir. We have tried to educate the Hork Bajir villagers to avoid being captured but progress has been difficult," Andrea said condescendingly.
"My people trust me," Dak said.
"You are the anomaly?" Elfangor realized.
Dak nodded. "With your permission we will make contact with each member of the village," Elfangor requested.
"I understand what you plan to do," Dak consented.
The Andalites immediately started making contact with each of the Hork Bajir villagers allowing them to morph into any one of them. Elfangor then turned to Lex. "I am about to violate Andalite law by doing this," Elfangor said revealing the morphing cube.
"What is this?" Lex wondered.
"Upon touching this cube you will have the power to transform into any creature you sample by physical touch," Elfangor told her.
"I will be able to turn into a Hork Bajir or one of you," Lex realized.
"Do not sample an Andalite. It is distasteful," Elfangor objected.
"Very well," Lex replied.
Lex extended her arm and touched the cube. There was a feeling as if electricity had gone through her and then it was gone in an instant. "Is that it?" Lex asked.
"Yes," Elfangor said placing the cube back into the transport. "Now, place your hand on one of the Hork Bajir," he instructed.
Lex found one and cautiously approached the bladed creature. It's snake like neck reached above her head. Lex reached out to touch the Hork Bajir hoping it would not slice her arm off. Elfangor's tail was tense as he would slice off the Hork Bajir's limb if it dared to attack. Lex touched the Hork Bajir and the creature fell into a trance. Once she had sufficiently sampled the Hork Bajir, Lex turned to Elfangor. "Now what?"
"You must imagine the creature you have sampled and become it," Elfangor instructed.
Lex closed her eyes and tried to imagine the Hork Bajir. Opening her eyes she found there was no change. Elfangor looked at Lex oddly. "Why isn't it working?" Lex asked frustrated.
"Are you pregnant?" he asked finally.
"No, I mean, probably not," Lex cringed.
"If you are with child the technology will not work. It would change the DNA of two separate beings into one being," Elfangor said.
"Why can't the fetus change into a Hork Bajir fetus?" Lex asked.
"The fetus would also need to touch the cube, sample a Hork Bajir fetus, and then have the mental ability to morph. It is impossible," Elfangor replied. "There is too much of a risk you will change, the fetus will not, and it will rupture your internal organs."
"This can't be happening! You have to be kidding me!" Lex said displeased.
"I have never seen this reaction to a pregnancy before," Elfangor said curiously.
"Look, its a miracle of life. I understand that but it is inconvenient for our mission," Lex said.
"True. You will lead the Hork Bajir to a new location so they will avoid capture by the Yeerks," Elfangor said. A hologram of the planet's surface was displayed between them. "This is your path," Elfangor said as he showed a canyon.
"When do we leave?" Lex asked.
"You leave now."
Lex gathered the Hork Bajir together along with an Andalite translator that had morphed into one of them. "We're leaving down into the canyon," Lex told them.
"Why?" one of them said.
"We have to escape the Yeerks," Lex explained.
"What are Yeerks?"
"They go into your brain and take over."
"What is brain?"
"It is inside your head. It makes you think."
"How do they get inside head?"
"Through the ear canal."
The Hork Bajir then touched their ear holes. "How?"
"That doesn't matter. They just can. They want to kill or enslave you," Lex said frustrated.
"Why?"
"I don't know. They're evil."
"What is evil?"
Lex simply stared at the eight feet tall creatures. "Bark down there in the canyon. We go," she said simply.
The Hork Bajir nodded forgetting the previous conversation. "Bark," they said following Lex.
"These creatures are even less intelligent than your species," her Andalite translator said as she led.
"The Yautja? Yes," Lex replied.
"I meant the other one," the Andalite joked.
"Funny. Become a bird and give me some eyes," Lex ordered.
The Hork Bajir morphed back into an Andalite and then morphed into a six winged orange eagle. He flew up into the air and circled around the massive trees.
Alloran gathered his troops together for a briefing. "As a last resort we will use a quantum virus that will specifically target the Hork Bajir. It will break down their cells on a subatomic level killing the entire species. It will not destroy the other life forms on the planet," Alloran said.
"Is this necessary?" one of them asked Alloran.
"I hope it will not come to it but the Yeerks have sent a transmission to another alien race to assist them. The Yeerks cannot leave this planet under any circumstances," Alloran said gravely.
"What is this alien race?"
"The Taxxons."
Lex continued to lead the Hork Bajir down the canyon while the Andalite flew around. Every two hours, the Andalite would morph back into his normal self and then morph back into the eagle. Suddenly a bolt of electricity hit the eagle dropping it. Lex immediately scanned the area but couldn't see the source of the blast. Additional bursts of more lethal intensity hit the trees and ground. Lex fired back with her plasma cannon in the general area of the shooter creating sparks to rain down onto the ground. The firing stopped and Lex wondered if she had scored a hit.
The eagle had lost a wing and many of its bones were broken. It began to morph back into its Andalite form to survive. Lex continued to look around and then heard a noise behind her. The air opened up revealing a young Yautja behind her.
"Put that plasma rifle down," Lex ordered.
Wayra looked over the Hork Bajir group and at the morphing Andalite. As soon as the Andalite was completely morphed, Wayra fired on him with his stun gun knocking him out. Lex fired on Wayra stunning him. She immediately took his plasma rifle and threw it aside. "What have you done? You dare fire on a Prince?" Wayra asked outraged.
"It wouldn't be the first time," Lex told him.
"You betray father by allying with the Andalite and these prey?" Wayra accused.
"If I were to betray your father I would have done it already. I assume you don't know where he is," Lex said.
Wayra remained silent. "Where is the rest of your party?" Lex asked.
"They're dead. We were ambushed," Wayra said shamefully.
"Survivor's guilt. It won't help. When I was on a mountain I came back down alive and my father didn't," Lex said.
"Father is not dead," Wayra insisted.
"I hope you're right. We're moving these Hork Bajir into the canyon to protect them from the Yeerks," Lex explained.
"I see," Wayra realized.
"You used the stun setting. I thought I was the only one. You could have killed that Andalite. Why didn't you?" Lex asked.
"I wanted to question him," Wayra lied.
"No, it's not that is it? You haven't killed before. You've lived a sheltered life," Lex said.
"You accuse me of dishonor?" Wayra said outraged. He got up to punch at her. Lex punched him to the head knocking him back down. "Until the stun wears off you're in no position to do anything," Lex told him.