Hello, hello. I apologise now for being so bad about replying to reviews - I WILL get round to it but right now I have NO time , and only managed to get this out by going into the small hours. Anyway, here is the next installment (finally). Please let me know what you think :)
Chapter 19
Grey clouds were gathering, covering the single Earth moon and limiting the starlight. I sighed and rubbed a thick-fingered human hand across my brow.
"Arbat, I'm very tired. Can this not wait?" He walked on ahead for a moment, as if he hadn't heard me. We had ambled aimlessly into the city, past the human shopping centre. A couple walked by, their dog straining at its leash, their laughter abrasive to my exhausted mind. Arbat stopped outside a glass shop front. Illuminated inside, on silk cushions, nestled human jewellery: chains of rare minerals and glittering stones glimmering seductively.
"Did you know a human male marks out his wife by giving her a gold ring?" Arbat asked. Inside I groaned, and stepped up to him. To our right a human in tatty clothes was playing music on an Earth instrument, a bow in his right hand drawn across a stringed box held in his left and under his chin. Achingly sweet notes dripped from his clumsy human fingers, and a sudden tang in the air warned me that the earlier clear skies really had been deceptive. As a breeze lifted I felt the first light drop of rain on my lips.
"Arbat, I do not have time for games," I said. He lifted his eyes and suddenly reached out and grasped my hand.
"No, Jahar, you have no time at all. Soon Alloran will be back with us, and you will be trapped, once more tied to his disgrace." I stood perfectly still, unsure whether to be shocked or angry or just mind numbingly tired. Above us the distant roar of thunder rolled across the sky, and the rain increased from the odd drop to a light shower. Neither of us paid it any attention, or looked away as humans shrieked around us and lifted umbrellas to the sky. "This is your very last chance to run," Arbat said, above the murmur of the rain, leaning in closer. "With me, Jahar..."
I stepped away, breaking the contact, breaking the moment. My breath steamed in the chill air in front of me.
"No Arbat. There are no more chances. There have been no chances for years, and it is time you accepted that. I can never truly forgive Alloran for what he did, but I love him as my husband. And he is the father of my children." I met his gaze in a challenge. "Your nephew and niece, Arbat."
I don't know what reaction I had expected. It was the first time I had ever forced him to acknowledge his relationship to my children. Arbat snorted.
"Jahar, I will not deceive you by pretending I care about Alloran's spawn." Raindrops clung to my eyelashes and I realised I was shaking.
"You've never forgiven us for marrying, have you?" My voice was astonishingly calm.
"Why should I?" he asked coldly. "You both left me and terminated contact. I lost you both all at once."
"You were angry because we left?" I repeated, astonished.
"I was alone," Arbat said simply. "Suddenly, Jahar, I lost you and my brother, the only two creatures I have ever cared about." A flash of lightning illuminated his face with a sudden deathly pallor, and I felt a strange wave of guilt.
"I'm sorry, Arbat," I said, as if speaking to a child. "I'm sorry you are lonely."
"Don't worry, I'm sure I am used to it by now," he said shortly, and for a second I thought of reaching out to him, but my loyalty to Alloran stood between us, like an invisible barrier. The rain had grown heavier now, a cold torrent drenching us. When I glanced up I could see the drops lancing down eerily towards me from the heavens.
"It's time to return to the ship," I said.
"It's time to return to Alloran," Arbat replied, emotionlessly. But he gave me the tiniest, fleeting smile.
The walk back to The Jahar turned into a soggy dash, and despite myself the run lifted my spirits so that I collapsed against the side of the ship giggling. The rain was unrelentless, a proper summer storm, and it was astonishing to think that here on this planet, millions of lightyears from my home, it rained just as it had on my meadows. Arbat laughed too, and staggered to the side of the ship, demorphing and pressing his Andalite hand to the control panel. I demorphed, unafraid of watchers. Even if they were brave enough to have ventured outside, no human could have seen more than a few feet in the rainy dark. The Jahar's outer door slid open and we trotted up the ramp, shaking the water from our fur inside.
I will be in my quarters, Arbat said. I might recommend you check the prisoner, Hak Bajeesh.
I nodded confirmation, risking a tiny smile at the name, and turned from him towards the storage room we had ordered Kipsing to take Visser Three too. The ship was very quiet after the thunderous rainstorm, and my hooves echoed unnaturally loud on the deck. I paused outside the door to the storage room, and took a deep breath, readying myself to face the sight of my husband chained and subdued again. Rolling my head on my weary neck, I pressed my hand to the control panel and stepped through into the room as the doors slid open.
BOOSH!
Searing heat! It hit me directly in the chest, a burning ball of flame, throwing me backwards off my feet.
AAARRGGHHH! I slammed back, into the wall behind me, and collapsed, an agonised smoking mess. My chest was on fire, my eyes blurred. Desperately I scrabbled to find my hooves, as something stepped into the main corridor, out of the storage room.
A seven foot high body, fat and crackling with lightning. Stubby arms and legs, fizzing with energy. A great wide grin across the face. A Luminar.
Visser Three.
Good, you are still alive, he laughed. It would have been a poor game for me to have killed you instantly. I had stumbled to my feet now and he pointed a fat finger at me. Don't move Jahar. I ignored him and dived sideways.
Aargh! He nearly missed, but the edge of his blast caught me, searing my hindquarters and sending me tumbling. Arbat! I screamed desperately. Kipsing! Visser Three advanced on me as I struggled to collect myself, his finger still pointed like a weapon at me.
How dare you? he growled, voice heavy with anger. How dare you abduct me, you worthless filth? Another controlled blast shot from his finger, enough to burn me, agonising fire licking across my fur. I screamed in pain. He was clearly holding back. I knew for a fact that the standard Luminar blast would have killed me instantly. I lay there, gasping after it had ended, for a full two minutes. I will make you regret your Andalite arrogance, Visser Three promised. Unsteadily I pulled myself upright again, blood bubbling over my seared flesh. My hands left gory prints on the wall behind me as I used them to drag myself up, my burnt sides streaking the deck. Visser Three waited until I had found my feet and blasted me again, sending me tumbling tail over hooves. I slammed into a bulkhead, woozy with pain. He chuckled, amused again.
How long can you play this game, Jahar? I didn't reply. The Visser cocked his head, considering, his huge mouth beaming. If you can get to your feet again, I might let you live. He was lying. Or if he did let me live it would be as a slave, condemned to the same fate as Alloran. My entire body screamed. Kipsing? Where was he?
Arbat, I pleaded despairingly. Please help me.
Can you not do it? Visser Three asked. He raised that finger again, sizzling with lethal energy. Goodbye, Jahar.
TSEWWW! A bolt of energy, but not from the Visser! The Shredder blast hit him in the back and he rocked and twisted to face the new threat. Arbat! he screamed, recognising his host's brother instantly. Arbat stood in the passageway behind him, pointing the weapon at the Visser.
Demorph now, scum, he said coldly. He was practically shaking with anger. Demorph or I will kill you.
With what? Visser Three laughed. The Luminar morph absorbs energy, Arbat, even from a Shredder. The more you shoot me the stronger I'll get. Arbat didn't move, but stood there, frozen. He held the now useless Shredder still, as the Visser faced him.
Luminars don't have eyes on the back of their heads. Which means Visser Three didn't see me climb to my feet again. He didn't see me reach for my weapon. Do you know, I think I'll keep you as a host for one of my lieutenants, the Visser gloated to Arbat, who took an unconscious step back from the sheer heat of the Luminar body.
Visser! I shouted. He swivelled back to me, too late, as I pumped the handle of the fire extinguisher.
AAARRGGHH! The Visser writhed as a powered jet of coolant slammed into him. His exterior under its blast was suddenly mere flesh, the electricity melting under the stream. The Visser spun wildly, a bolt of energy shooting from his flailing fingers and hitting Arbat, hurling him back against the bulkhead. He slammed down, stunned, eyes fluttering. Jahar! Visser Three screamed in fury. The fire extinguisher gave a final squirt and then sputtered, spent, and I dropped it instantly. Visser Three was in a bad way, half crackling with energy and half soggy grey flesh, but his eyes were trained on me with a look of intense hatred. He pointed a finger and I dodged awkwardly.
BOOSHH!
A near miss! I staggered on burnt and aching legs to the left down the passageway and he waddled behind me. A bend in the corridor saved me from his next blast and I forced myself forward to the main doors. I'll fry you like I did that stupid guard you set on me! the Visser raged. My hearts congealed in my chest, and I nearly stopped running in horror. Kipsing! Oh, Kipsing!
I reached the main keypad and slapped my hand desperately against it. With a hum the main doors slid open and I staggered out, onto the ramp. The pouring rain crashed down on me, agonising on my tender burnt skin, and I couldn't help but scream. The pain caused me to stumble and fall, rolling to the ground. Raising my head I dimly saw the Luminar appear, framed in the main entrance. He didn't step forward but regarded me through the dark veil of rain.
Was I meant to dash blindly out after you, Jahar? he asked. No, I can hit you perfectly easily from here. He lifted that finger and I closed my eyes, prepared for the very worse.
Tseww! Again, Shredder fire instead of the Visser's anticipated blast. Again Visser Three had been caught from behind, and he lurched forwards from the shock of the blast. Out, onto the ramp, into the rain! No! he howled in anger, as the water instantly quenched the remaining lighting flickering over his body. He stumbled to his knees. Behind him Arbat staggered forwards and swung his tail, pressing the blade against the Visser's meaty throat.
Now you will demorph, Arbat shouted. Now you will demorph and you will free my brother you vile, vile parasite! I began morphing myself, as fast as I could, still whimpering in pain as the rain stung my burnt flesh; but new, unscarred skin was forming as I slid back to my human morph. I stood up on my two legs just in time to see the Visser's features melt back into those of my husband. Arbat snapped his tail, the blow catching the Visser on the side of his head, and he collapsed, stunned, on the ramp. I clambered back up to Arbat. He was breathing hard, his dark blood mixing with the rain and trickling in watery rivulets from the burnt flesh. I reached out and took the Shredder from his hand.
"Morph, Arbat." As he morphed to human I demorphed to my own Andalite form.
Mother! I turned instantly at the hysterical shout, and peered through the rain. A blue figure shimmered into view, Tirdellan, and behind her out of the darkness stumbled Medrar. Tirdellan slammed into me, and I realised she was shuddering, her whole body shaking.
Tirdellan! I hugged her close, unbelievably grateful to see her alive. She pulled away and looked up at me, eyes wide with panic.
He killed Kipsing! It was too fast – Kipsing pushed me out of the room and locked the doors and then I heard a blast and he screamed. She shuddered again and I ran my tail soothingly over her shoulders. He screamed, oh I heard him scream and then no more! Nothing more! Her knees gave way and I bent down, cradling her shivering form in my arms. I glanced up at Medrar, running my eyes over him for damage. He seemed shaken but unharmed.
Farling and Lortif? I asked, unable to keep my voice steady. I wanted to curl up in a ball and cry, from pain and horror and sheer misery and I wanted to run far away from the knowledge that my son might be dead. I desperately wished my own mother was there to hold and soothe me.
Farling and Lortif are disposing of the Bug fighter, Medrar replied. He stepped forward, his head hanging. Jahar, I am sorry we ran. When Tirdellan came to my quarters my only thought was to get her away.
No, I shook my head. It's all right, you did the right thing. You're both alive. That's what matters.
Kipsing isn't, Medrar whispered, and his words sent another wave of horror washing through me.
No, I said softly. I raised Tirdellan's head. How did this happen? Why was he allowed to morph?
It's my fault, she moaned, rocking back and forth. I was talking to Kipsing. I... I made him look at me. When we saw what had happened it was too late. He screamed so loud! I closed my eyes in awful resignation as the scene fluttered before me: my daughter and Kipsing talking urgently about their budding relationship whilst behind them the comatose Visser awoke and morphed. Kipsing had been sent to keep me safe, and now he was dead. He was gone.
Kalladin's face swam before my eyes and I felt the weight of leaden misery descend fully on me. How could I ever face her and tell her her son was dead?
Jahar? Arbat called.
Not now, Arbat! I snarled, furious at his constant demands, forgetting instantly that I owed him my life.
Jahar? another voice said, and a strange leap of something bolted through me. I suddenly found it very hard to breathe, but somehow stood up and turned away from Tirdellan. The rain still poured, blurring my vision.
War Prince Alloran stood in front of me, his fur slick with rain water, his head bowed.
Jahar, please forgive me, he whispered.