CHAPTER TEN
I wanted to do something for Algon, something to honor his body. But there was nothing I could do. Time was running out.
As difficult as it was, I focused on his body.. And I became him.
Cautiously, I trotted out into the hallway and headed for the nearest drop shaft. I was still in danger, but at least I didn't look like Tom, the target of the Yeerks...
I would have wondered why I was a target. But I knew the answer.
How had they gotten onboard, anyway? A Yeerk ship would have been spotted long before they could attack, let alone board the Garibah. It didn't make any sense.
I arrived on the aristh floor and stepped out. Andalites were running about, probably heading towards their battle stations. Every aristh room was on lock-down, sealed shut. I hurried over to Malbin's quarters and prayed that he was there to hear my thought-speak...
((Malbin? Are you in there?))
((Tom? Tom, is that you? How are you using thought-speak?))
((I'm in Andalite morph.))
((Andalite morph? Preposterous! No Andalite would allow such a thing!))
((Algon-Tallanbak-Sangar did. It was his choice...))
For once, I think Malbin understood.
((What is your plan?)) he asked.
((We have to get out of here. Find a transport. Escape. They're looking for me.))
((I will assist you. You are my friend.))
((Thank you, Malbin.))
He stepped out of the room and tilted his stalk eyes up and down, examining my body. Suddenly, we heard Dracon fire a few halls down.
((Your body is superior to mine. Perhaps my assistance will not be required...)) Malbin turned back to his quarters.
I grabbed his arm. ((Come on, Malbin. I'm not leaving you here.))
Together, we ran to the end of the hall. A Dracon beam exploded right in front of me.
"Andalites!" a Human-Controller yelled.
Suddenly, there was an explosion behind the Controllers. A cloud of smoke billowed out, spreading across the ground. Out from the haze stepped...
A gorilla?!
"State your name, comrade," one of the Controllers said.
((Uhm. I'm not on your side, buddy.))
Just then, a tiger leaped out from the smoke. It went for the guy with the Dracon beam. Next thing I knew, the gun was lying on the floor. The Controller was holding his hand, screaming as a stream of blood fell to his boots.
"Earth morphs not on our side?! Impossible!"
((Hey, that's no way to think, guys! Anything's possible when you put your heads together!))
The gorilla lumbered over and grabbed the Controllers, slamming them together, forehead to forehead. They fell in a lump on the floor.
((Yes! King Kong strikes again.))
((Knock it off, Marco. We have to hurry.))
Wait.. That gorilla was Marco? That means the tiger had to be..
((Dad?))
The tiger jerked his head in my direction.
((Tom? Is that you?))
((Yeah! I'm in Andalite morph. I'm the taller one.))
((I can feel my inferiority complex growing..)) Malbin sighed.
((Come on, guys! Follow me!))
Together, we traveled down the hall. A tiger, a gorilla, and two Andalites...
The ship was a maze of paths and tunnels, but Dad knew where he was going. We came across a few more Controllers, but Marco took care of them quick and easy. If they didn't run away screaming. Most humans don't wanna stand in a gorilla's way...
Eventually, we came to an express port. Express ports allow passengers of small ships to board without parking in the hangar. All we had to do was make it through the air-lock tunnel, open the transport's hatch, climb inside, seal the hatch, and take off. There was only one problem. That process takes at least a few minutes. And Controllers were sure to be on our trail.
We raced through the tunnel anyway. Marco struggled to open the hatch with large gorilla hands.
Suddenly, Dracon fire!
At the very end of the hallway, directly behind us, came a group of running Human-Controllers.
"Andalite filth!"
"You will die! Die!"
"Give us the boy! He is ours!"
((Hurry, Marco!)) my dad shouted.
((Okay, okay! I'm not exactly trying to peel a banana here...))
I looked back. I could feel Malbin's fear. And I could relate to it. I felt like giving up. I didn't want to run anymore.
But then, Frederick stepped out from the side hall, the one we had come through.
((Frederick? What is he doing here?)) Malbin asked, concerned.
I narrowed my stalk eyes. ((Great.. He probably set us up. I had a bad feeling about him.))
Frederick turned at us. He revealed a Dracon beam.
"You guys get out of here! I'll hold them off!" he yelled.
What? Frederick defending me? That was the last thing I would've expected.
Frederick began to fire at the oncoming Controllers just as Marco got the hatch open.
((Frederick! No!)) I shouted. I couldn't let someone else die to protect me.
"Just get out of here, kid!"
He was right. I had to go. Marco, Dad, Malbin, and I climbed into the transport. Then, Marco sealed the hatch. I looked out the window, watching Frederick battle the Controllers.
((Computer! Return us to the Rachel. Now!)) Dad ordered.
The transport rocked slowly as it detached itself from the Dome Ship. We sailed off and away, steadily picking up speed until the Garibah was no longer in view. In the meantime, we demorphed.
"Oh, so the little man can morph now?" Marco asked. "Welcome to the club. We're out of t-shirts right now, but we're still having a sale on collectible Animorphs plates!"
My dad shook his head. "Hey, son. It's good to see you."
He walked over and hugged me tight, like he always does. I guess it should've made me happy. But I was just sad that I couldn't have him around more often.. I missed my dad a lot. So did Mom.
"You okay, man?" Marco asked.
"Yeah, I'm cool.."
"Who's your friend?" said Dad, nodding towards the scared Andalite behind me.
"That's Malbin."
My dad smiled and stepped over to him, extending his hand. "Hello, Malbin. I'm Jake, Tom's dad."
Malbin took his hand. ((It is an honor to meet you, Prince Jake Berenson.))
Dad laughed. "It's just Jake, Malbin."
((Yes, Prince Jake.))