So, here is chapter 5, and Jahar's actually getting underway after lots of dithering around! Hooray! And hooray for Lortif, who is becoming my favourite character. Huge thanks and hugs to all who reviewed before. Please please leave me comments - they make me very happy :D

Chapter 5

Boys and girls, I hope you enjoyed your lunch because you will soon saying hello to it again, Lortif announced as he gunned the Starwave's main engines. He had taken the central pilot position, but only after he had crawled over nearly every inch of the Starwave cooing in delight. I suppose it's a male thing – I could appreciate that she was beautiful but Lortif had treated her like a new born kafit bird and practically mewled with pleasure when I asked him to fly.

I thought you were supposed to be a qualified pilot, Tirdellan said anxiously, grasping a hand bar on the left side of the main cockpit. Lortif smiled.

Oh I can fly, Tirdellan. Whether I can evade the security ships ringing our planet is quite another matter. That is, of course, unless anyone got us clearance to leave the planet? He looked around expectantly and silence met him. I thought not.

Can you do it then? I asked crossly, furious that I'd forgotten such a basic thing. In front of him the main screen hummed into life.

Of course he can, Farling said proudly. Lortif is the best pilot the academy has seen for many years. Lortif inclined his head modestly, but his stalk eyes remained erect, a sure sign he was pleased with my son's praise.

Computer, prepare for a display of sheer brilliance, he directed in public thought speak. Medrar groaned.

Enough with the theatrics, you fool. Just get us going.

Would you rather do it? Lortif asked huffily, but he moved his fingers over the central keypad and blue lights run under them. With a gentle whine the Starwave lifted up, and Lortif stifled with difficulty an answering whinny of pleasure as the ship came alive for him. Through the viewing window I saw great ripples run through the grasses beneath us from our engines. Lortif turned the ship so that it pointed up towards the stars and flexed his fingers.

Hold on to something, we're going to go quite fast.

Is that safe? Tirdellan asked, and I suddenly remembered that she had never left the planet before, had never flown beyond atmosphere 3.

At this altitude, it's what the textbooks call 'inadvisable', Lortif teased, his face deadpan. Tirdellan braced herself against the main bulkhead, legs splayed for greater balanced, and I thought there was probably sense in that. As I wedged myself against the back wall of the cockpit I saw Medrar and Farling take up similar positions. Which was a bit worrying, seeing as they were the ones who had vouched for Lortif's flying skills. Lortif entered ultimate destination co-ordinates into the computer, and then took the joy stick with a look of reverence. He tested it gently, tipping the ship this way and that just a few feet off the ground, and then pointed her skyward again.

Computer, full speed ahead.

FWOOOOOM!

I've flown before, to the Yeerk home world with Alloran, and briefly to the Hork Bajir home world, but it had been a long time ago and I'd forgotten the sheer kick of acceleration. Tierdellan stumbled and caught herself against the bulkhead. Farling and Medrar seemed sprayed onto their walls, and even though there was no wind in the cockpit I imagined my fur streaming flat backwards from the forward motion. We rocketed up, towards the bright sky, through a layer of cloud and as I watched the sky darkened and the stars began to grow clearer.

Leaving atmospheres 2 and 3, the computer reported in its cool female voice. (I'd always wondered if Arbat had modelled that voice on my own. A disconcerting thought). Entering atmosphere 1. The final atmosphere, the final protective band between the Andalite home world and outer space.

The patrol zone.

Security ship! Lortif cried. Coming in fast. Somehow Farling and Medrar unpeeled themselves from the walls and took positions on either side of Lortif. Looking decidedly uncertain, Farling picked up the weapon controls.

If we could avoid shooting them, that would be preferable, I said. Yes I was angry with my people. That didn't mean I wanted to start a fight on our own doorstep.

Just a precaution, Farling answered, faking control and bravado. Lortif should be able to avoid them.

Don't rush me, Lortif muttered, his hands dancing over the central control pads. A voice crackled over our communications intercom.

Unidentified ship, you are not authorised to enter atmosphere 1. Return to atmosphere 2; repeat, return to atmosphere 2. Medrar clicked the intercom on, and replied.

This is the Fartree, registration C645G. Do not approach, we are experiencing engine difficulties and our weapons system is unstable. We will comply as soon as possible. Lortif smiled at him.

That's our boy, he whispered. Fastest liar in the cadets. There was a pause, and then the reply came.

This is patrol ship H672R. We demand visual communication and identification of all 6 passengers.

Negative, Medrar replied, as Lortif frantically communicated with the computer.

Two more coming from the East, the pilot hissed, pointing to our radar display, which showed two red dots closing in on our green one.

Our visual communications system is malfunctioning, Medrar elaborated to the waiting silence on the other end of the intercom. There was a decidedly suspicious quality to that silence.

Why did he say 6 passengers? Tirdellan asked. Farling waved a hand to silence her.

Malfunctioning scanners, probably. Don't use public thought speak; they can hear it through the intercom. At that moment the communications system flared back into life. And it was quite clear that H672R was unimpressed.

Starwave, you are ordered to return to atmosphere 2 this instant or I will be forced to fire on you.

Well it was worth a try, Medrar said, terminating the connection. Ready Lortif?

Here we go, the pilot shouted. As we watched the patrol ship started closing in on us, the other two arriving from the East also narrowing the distance between their dots on the screen and our own. Lortif smiled faintly. Catch me if you can, boys. He twisted the controls.

FWOOOM!

Again we shot forwards, but also now we spun, a barrel roll that would have bounced us off the ceiling if Lortif had not recalibrated the gravity stabilisers. Somehow my hooves seemed glued to the floor, so that even though I was briefly upside down I didn't fall. Then a swift turn to the left, and we looped under the security ship which was turning, too slow, to shoot us. Then down (down? Weren't we meant to be going up?) We shot down through the clouds, and Lortif increased the speed, then spun and twisted the ship up again. In the clouds the security ship lost visual and had to rely on his computer telling him where we were. I smiled thinly, remembering Alloran telling me how Andalites hated not being able to see what they were chasing.

Incoming from the East, Medrar yelled, and suddenly two more security ships whizzed into view. Lortif spun us, so that we were side on to them and shouted, Now! Farling's face creased with concentration as he aimed and squeezed off one shot.

TSEWWW!

The bright shredder beam flared out, and as I watched it hit one of the ships on its left side. The ship instantly veered, out of control, and smashed into the other one which was turning, too late, to avoid it. Medrar laughed.

Nice shot. Took out the navigation controls perfectly. Farling beamed with a pride I'd rarely seen in him before.

Then... TSEWWW! A shredder blast streaked past us as we swept a sudden right, still straining upwards to the stars.

You'll have to aim better than that, Lortif cried excitedly, and Medrar and Farling laughed, the thrill of danger animating their faces. I glanced at Tirdellan to see if she was joining in with the jubilation of all three arisths as we spun again, but her face had drained to the palest blue and her eyes were clamped closed. Carefully I reached out to her mind, sending her warmth and strength, and felt her receive it. She cranked open her left stalk eye and gave me a pathetic smile of gratitude. The security ship was aligning itself behind us again, preparing to blast us, when the Starwave started talking to us again.

Calibrating translation to Zero Space in 5, 4..

About time! Farling shouted, releasing the weapons port and standing by Lortif.

3,2...

First time into Zero space! Lortif screamed, and for just a second the revelation of his inexperience sent cold fear scurrying down my spine. But it was too late! He, Farling and Medrar suddenly clasped hands. Tirdellan's expression hardened into one of grim terror.

1. Entering Zero space, the computer informed us.

And then...

WHITE!

Not greyish white, or cloudy white or anything with substance.

Just WHITE!

Zero space, or Z-space. Anti-space. A way to get somewhere fast, by tunnelling through its centre, but impossible to be followed through, as you needed destination co-ordinates to enter it. It is also where the spare matter is meant to go when you morph. Not that I was really expecting to see a heart or bag of guts drifting by. Although that would have been incredibly interesting.

Lortif set the autopilot, and the three arisths crowded around the viewing windows, marvelling at it as we gently drifted through.

I'd heard it was just white but I never realised how empty it is, Lortif remarked. Medrar smiled.

Just like I remembered, he said wistfully. Farling glanced at him interestedly.

I didn't know you'd been before. Medrar looked embarrassed and shuffled his hooves.

I wasn't meant to be on the ship, he explained. I was exploring its fascinating new weapons system when several warriors came aboard. I, um, hid. Lortif laughed at that.

You were a stowaway! I never knew. Medrar had flushed purple.

I was threatened with demotion for my brother if I ever told anyone. Still, now that I am probably going to be written off as a deserter and they can't know it seemed ok to say.

I left them marvelling at Z-space (of course, I'd seen it all before, in a similar state of fascination, with my young husband at my side, answering all the questions I had asked) and turned to Tirdellan.

You can open your eyes now, Tirdellan. Carefully she opened them, one by one, and with great reluctance released her grip on the bulkhead.

We were upside down but didn't fall. That was the most frightening thing I have ever done. With a start of shock I realised she was shaking and stretched out my tail, caressing her shoulders with it. She relaxed a little, but her face was still unnaturally pale. The arisths hadn't noticed and I leaned towards her.

You were very brave Tirdellan. She smiled, again that pathetic half smile. I inclined my head towards the three males. Listen, if you want them to respect you I suggest you never let them know how much this frightens you. She squared her shoulders and raised her head defiantly.

Do not worry mother, I am not going to embarrass you. I laughed gently.

Of course not. Still, she moved over to the viewing port where they stood, and feigned similar excitement in staring at the vast emptiness, and they were very happy to repeat all of their pooled knowledge on it to her with the air of experienced old hands at it. I tilted my head, appraising Medrar and Lortif. Lortif was a heavier build than the other, slightly heavier even than Farling, and he stood the tallest. Medrar was sleeker, a hint of silver in his fur, but his tail looked like it could deliver more of a kick. As I watched Tirdellan turn to him with a question a sudden thought occurred to me.

Would my daughter start attempting a romance on this voyage?

I sincerely hoped not. This journey did not have room for plans for a future afterwards. It was pointed almost certainly towards death.

And looking at the four young Andalites chattering to each other, I felt incredibly guilty.

I was leading them into danger, on the promise of adventure, for my own personal gain.

Retrieving Alloran only mattered to me. The impact of such an action on the Andalite people as a whole was negligible. The end of the Abomination could just as easily be achieved with the death of my husband. Rescuing him would prove far more dangerous and benefitted very few. My children? They were both brave, but I was afraid that they had only come out of loyalty to me. And what was in it for them? A father who had vanished when both were almost too young to know. On the other end of our voyage evil waited, and pain and death. Tirdellan didn't even know how to fight.

That would have to change. I stepped forward. Assumed a commanding pose.

Please listen for a minute. They turned to me, still giddy with the excitement of novelty, and again I was struck by how very young they were. What are you doing, Jahar? Lortif, how long will it take us to reach the planetary system containing Earth? I asked. He crossed to the computer, checked it and groaned.

Five weeks. It would have been less a season ago but Z-space has shifted in that time.

Right, then we have five weeks to fill. I smiled at their attentive faces, waiting for orders from me, their captain? Their prince? I'd need to clarify my position at some point. I'd checked that all of them were morph capable, so that wasn't something which needed any more consideration. Fighting did. I pressed on. The Starwave is equipped with a training room, complete with military holograms. In this time I want you to train during any time you can spare from the rituals and necessary diversions. I indicated Tirdellan. The three of you with military training are at an advantage, and together I want you to teach my daughter how to fight. She stared straight ahead, embarrassed by the revelation of her lack of experience. You all have your own quarters assigned to you. If you need to find me I will be in my own. I turned to Lortif. If our situation changes report to me. In fact (and now I faced them all) all of you are to report to me at least every two days. There was a silence, and then Medrar bent slightly, in a bow.

Yes, Captain Jahar. His solemn expression was almost comical, but the other three followed his example, subordinating themselves to me. Me. An aging female with little military experience and not even the vaguest hint of a plan. Subordinating themselves to my need to find my mate again, after all these long years.

I felt sick with myself.

I left them and hurried to my quarters, determined to perform a purifying ritual to cleanse the feeling of diseasefrom my bones. The doors swished open and I stepped in eyes forward, already starting to repeat the familiar words of the ritual in my head. The doors clicked shut behind me.

And suddenly a thought speak came from my left:

Poor ship, it's a wonder it's still in one piece! What did you use as a pilot, a half digested taxxon?

I spun around and had real difficulty focusing on the Andalite standing before me. See, most of my attention was taken up by the nose of the shredder pointing straight at me.