Sabion tried to take Estrid seriously. He tried very, very hard not to underestimate his opponent. He constantly reminded himself that she designed these weapons. She had had a lot of practice with them while he had just gotten them. He reminded himself that he had not been in an actual fight or sparring match since his final tail-fighting exam in the Academy.

No matter how hard he tried, though, he could not seem to overcome the fact that standing before him was a Andalite a little over two-thirds his size.

(I will try not to hurt you,) he told her. They were in the sphere, in the quadrant designed to mimic the western landscape. This mimicry and division had a very practical purpose. Because of the ship's design, terms like up, down, left, right, upper, lower, etc. were no longer applicable. Instead, they referred to everything in terms of north, south, east, and west. The division of the landscape helped to remind them which quadrant corresponded to what part of the ship.

(That will not be much of an issue,) Estrid replied offhandedly. She and Sabion stood, facing each other. Acario, Alloran, Alludra, and Calnen stood a slight distance away from them.

Sabion flicked his tail and sent the signal to the bracelet, sheathing his tailblade in energy. It was set to stun, which would help to prevent him from harming her. Estrid flicked her tail, igniting her blade as well. Alloran looked from one to the other, making sure each looked ready. Then, he nodded. (Begin!)

Estrid did not strike any faster than Sabion had expected. He assumed she would be fast, females usually were. What he didn't expect was threw precisely aligned blow she threw at his lower heart. He danced to the side but she changed the direction of her swing at the last moment, sweeping upwards instead of driving sideways. The energy sheath on her tail, set to stun, felt like ice sweeping across his shoulder.

(Twenty one djaliksh on the girl,) Acario said quickly to Alloran. Alloran did not respond. Alludra looked away. She knew better than to gamble with Acario.

Calnen shrugged with his eyes. (The djaliksh is the standard monetary unit of the Rakam-Garoo, correct?)

(Just the Rakam, actually. The Garoo moved on to sinjh crystals last kilorote.)

(What good would djaliksh do me, then?)

(You can always trade them to an Anati collector for some olami.)

Sabion was forced on the defensive, a position he did not like. Estrid was very fast. Sabion was just barely fast enough to avoid being stunned into submission by her whip of a tail. His movements consisted mostly of sidesteps and parries with his own tailblade.

(I thought they were supposed to be testing the weapons,) Alludra remarked to her father. (Why doesn't Sabion use his shield?)

(He always was a slow learner,) Alloran remarked. Then, to Sabion, he added, (Use the cetsu, Warrior.)

(It wouldn't work,) Sabion responded. (She's using her tailblade. The cetsu allows matter through. It only stops energy.)

Alloran sighed. (What's around her tailblade, you Gedd?)

Sabion paused for a moment, embarrassed. That was long enough for Estrid to slap him across the upper torso with a stunning blow. Sabion stumbled back. Estrid struck again but this time Sabion raised his cetsu, two of his fingers aligned. Her energy-sheathed tailblade stopped when it connected with the energy field. Sabion felt a slight jolt in his arm but it was nothing too terrible.

He pushed back hard, throwing her tailblade away. It would not have been possible for anyone but a southern Andalite. He countered with his own tailblade. Suddenly, the tables were turned; or, at least, evened out. Both were making full use of their shields now, deflecting blows as often as they dodged or parried them. Sabion gave Estrid's shield a vicious pounding, but the cetsu held up against everything the Warrior could bring to bear against it. Estrid would give out before the shield did.

Sabion forced her back across the landscape. Her arm was almost fully drained of power and now she had little choice left but to retreat. If she had just lowered her tailblade, he could have stopped. But until she signaled defeat, he really didn't have a choice but to keep going. (You're relying too much on that shield,) Alloran called to her.

(Who's side are you on?) Alludra asked him.

(I am on my side. The better all of you fight, the more likely it is that I don't have to burn your corpses.)

Estrid dispensed with her shield, making full use of her tail. She was attacking with a fury now but she still couldn't get past Sabion's guard. The shield provided a definite advantage. Estrid was very good, nearly as good as he was. But with the added defense, Sabion would be victorious. Of course, her tail was not Estrid's only weapon.

She raised her arm, palm out. A green beam of light lanced towards Sabion. He aligned all of his fingers, shielding himself form the Shredder beam. It was absorbed harmlessly by the shield, though Sabion felt his arm go slightly numb at that. Estrid was pushing him back now, alternating between Shredder blasts and swipes of her tail.

Acario nodded to Alloran. (She's good. Sabion was the best at the Academy, and I'd say she's at least as good. Where'd she learn to fight like that?)

Alloran shook his head. (I couldn't say. I wish I had a teacher like that for the rest of you. She is making me look like a one-armed Gedd.)

Sabion returned fire. Estrid absorbed two beams before her she could no longer use her shield. Instead of submitting, though, she fired back even more, keeping Sabion pinned down beneath a barrage of Shredder fire. She advanced as she fired, forcing him to backpedal. His shield would not last him much longer. Already, he had lost all feeling in that entire arm. The numbness was creeping into his shoulder and chest, which was a serious problem. It was possible for that to stop one of his hearts.

Sabion decreased the number of finger she aligned, from six to five to for to three to two until at last, he did not hold his shield anymore. Estrid was very close now. Close enough that the flashback from the Shredder on her palm would stun them both. She struck with her tail.

Sabion raised his shield one last time. She was close enough now that he could strike. It would be all the opening he needed. One good blow to the chest would end this. He smiled as her energy-sheathed tailblade met his shield. She smiled as, with a thought, she turned off the energy sheath. Her tailblade, now simple matter, went through the shield like it was air, cutting deep into his arm. Had the appendage not been so numb, Sabion would have screamed.

His tailblade smashed her in the chest. The numbness from the blow, combined with her exhaustion from the fight, was enough to knock her to her knees. Sabion rose and tapped his tailblade against the side of her head, symbolizing his victory.

(Twenty one djaliksh,) Calnen said to Acario.

Acario shrugged his stalks. Only the stalks. His eyes remained motionless. It was a peculiar western gesticulation of which other races did not seem to be capable. (Sure, but you should know they went out of currency with the Rakam about the same time as they did with the Garoo.)

Sabion's feeling of victory fled quickly when Alludra rushed past him and helped Estrid to her feet. (That was amazing, Estrid! I'll bet you could give my brother a good thrashing. Asculan's always been too confident. You need to teach me some of that.)

Alloran scuffed a hoof. (I have been training you, if you recall.)

(Yes, but not like that!)

Estrid began to morph to kafit bird. Sabion, to heal his wounds, did the same. Alloran nodded. (The weapons are effective, Estrid. We will all have to familiarize ourselves with them.)

(Where did you learn to fight?) Sabion asked Estrid as he demorphed. Alloran, Alludra, and Acario turned and entered the shaft, to go survey other parts of the ship. Calnen remained behind.

(My brother,) Estrid explained. (And I got a few quick lessons on Earth. One learns fast among Animorphs.)

(Were they really as good as everyone says?) Calnen asked. (I mean, was it simple luck that they defeated the Yeerks?)

(They are far more intelligent than they appeared at first,) Estrid answered. (They succeeded in fooling us effortlessly. The Andalite who was in charge, Arbat, was one of the highest Intelligence officers in the government. He was one of the most intelligent our race has. They fooled him without stopping to think twice about it. Yes, Calnen, they are as good as you have heard. Perhaps better. I am not even certain our mission is necessary. If they have gone to rescue Prince Aximili from whatever fate has befallen him, they will not likely need our help. And if they have come across something that has defeated even them, we will not have much chance against it.)

(Were they great warriors?) Sabion asked.

(The best I have ever seen,) she admitted, seeming almost embarrassed. (Unorthodox and erratic at times, but they were incredible. Brave, ferocious, and intelligent. And it seemed that nothing was too insane for them to try, or too difficult for them to do.)

(Why don't you tell us everything you know about them?) Calnen suggested. (It might prove useful.)

So Estrid did.

Acario, Alloran, and Alludra were surveying the crew quarters. Alloran's were, of course the largest. As for the rest of themif Acario hadn't gotten over his racial claustrophobia years ago, he would have been forced to do so now. (Cozy in here,) he remarked to Alludra as the two of them stood in the room that would be hers. (I think I rather like it.)

Alloran shook his head. (A word, Acario?)

Acario left Alludra in her quarters, the door closing shut behind him like a section of the wall scabbing over. (Yeah, uncle?)

(There is something I want you to do for me.)

(I'm flattered, but-)

(Not now, Acario.)

Acario shrugged his stalks. (Alright, what is it?)

Alloran did not see anyone coming but kept his thought speech private just in case. (You are Alludra's only friend.)

(I wouldn't say-)

(You wouldn't, but you are. The other females despise her for her past actions. And the malesI am sure I do not have to tell you about the males.) Alloran shook his head. (You were the only true friend she had while I was gone. You were a terrible influence, yes, and you led her down some paths that I should cut your throat for. But you kept an eye on her until you left.)

(I prefer the term fled.)

(We will go with left. Jahar told me you were like a nephew to her, the one male who could be trusted in our Scoop. That's why I ask this of you.)

(You want me to kill Sabby?)

(Not kill him. Just watch him. I am not sure if Alludra has any intentions towards him or not, but I know very well what he has in mind. I was willing to more or less ignore him on the homeworld, he was harmless there. But here, with few other options, Alludra might change her opinion of him.)

(Maybe it's just a father thing, but I think you're getting too worked up over this, Uncle. So what if they do the dance of eight legs?)

Acario stumbled forward as the flat of Alloran's tailblade smashed into the back of his head. (I don't want her falling back into her old ways, Acario,) Alloran half-shouted. He regained control a moment later and continued in a softer tone. (But I cannot watch her all the time. Promise me you will help me.)

(Yeah, yeah, sure. Not like I've got anything better to do than foal-sit Cousin Ally anyway. Although I should probably keep an eye on that Calnen character, too. Never hurts, you know?)

Alloran nodded. (Of course. And one more thing.)

(Yeah?)

(I know what you talked Estrid into hiding on this ship for you. And I noticed that tree in the sphere. If you don't think I recognize a illsipar tree when I see one, you have severely underestimated me. I know that trying to make you stop would be pointless. It might even do more harm than good. You aren't very useful if withdraw incapacitates you. Just keep it to yourself. I don't want you corrupting my warriors.)

Acario's eyes drooped. (Not even a little bit?)

(No.)

(What about Estrid? She's kind of cute, don't you think?)

Alloran paused. (She is young enough to be my daughter. Acario, I won't forbid you to do anything I know you would not listen anyway, no matter what I threatened you with.)

(It's like you've known me all my life.)

(Just keep your vices to yourself.)

(You take all the fun out of life, you know that?)