Here we are :) Another chapter, and some present Alloran moments - so much fun to write! Please let me know what you think xxx
Chapter 21
Mother? Are you awake? Wearily I opened my eyes, wincing at the bright overhead light. I was lying on a table-top which held my legs and tail comfortably. Tirdellan was leaning over me, eyes wide.
What happened?
You fainted, Tirdellan said softly. Outside, in the rain. We carried you in and father told me to watch over you. 'Father'… My hearts skipped and instantly I swung my legs off the table.
Your father! Where is he? He was so close!I tried to stand but my legs nearly gave way and Tirdellan caught me with difficulty. Why am I so weak?
Arbat said the morphing and adrenaline would have tired you out, Tirdellan said mechanically. I held onto her, pulling myself upright, and suddenly the sad expression on her face reminded me…
Oh, Kipsing, I groaned. Tirdellan gasped, and then she reached out to catch the table top. Suddenly I was the one supporting her.
Mother, it's so awful! He's gone, but Lortif and Farling…
What? Something cold wrapped itself around my chest and squeezed. My son! Where was my son?
They were getting rid of the Bug fighter, Tirdellan whimpered. The Yeerks… they found them somehow. They took them. I closed my eyes in horror. Would this nightmare never end?
Tirdellan, how do you know? Maybe they're just delayed. I was clutching at straws but it was all I had to keep me sane. Tirdellan shook her head miserably.
There's a transmission. In the main cockpit. I walked with her from the quarters I had been installed in (my own, now that I looked more closely, although my computer had been moved to make room for the table I was resting on) to the main cockpit. My blood thudded loud in my ears. Arbat and Alloran stood next to each other, in front of the main computer screen. Medrar was in a corner, his tail drooping, and my hearts went out to him. On the computer screen was an image of a human, a female with long dark hair and an icy expression. As I entered the cockpit Arbat gave me a brief greeting nod. Alloran turned to me and held out his hand.
Jahar… I went to him, but it was not as I imagined. There was no loving reunion, because our son was missing. I had regained my husband, but neither of us had time for each other. I turned to the main screen and motioned to it.
What is this?
A transmission for me, Alloran whispered. He nodded at Medrar. Would you play it again aristh? Medrar complied, his fingers moving without their customary lightness over the keypad, and the transmission began again.
The face of the human female filled the screen. Behind her was a metal wall – it looked like the interior of a standard spaceship. Her voice was cold, devoid of humanity. Pure Yeerk.
"This is a message for War prince Alloran. I am in command of the Yeerk invasion of Earth. I know you are out there. I know you are not alone. You have six hours to turn yourself in before I order the infestation of the two arisths we captured. Surrender, and your son and his friend will be released unharmed. Your friends will be allowed to leave this planet unmolested. Failure to comply will condemn them." We were shown a brief shot of two small Andalites, sprawled unconscious on the floor of cages. A Hork Bajir stepped up to them and roughly lifted their limp heads in turn, showing us their faces.
It's them, I whispered, feeling like I wanted to cry. They've got them. The transmission cut back to the human. "Meet us at the forest entrance to the Pool. Six hours, slave."
Arbat turned to Alloran.
How can they possibly know you are free? he asked. Alloran shrugged.
I do not know, brother. But perhaps if he returned to them…
He was washed away in the rain! Arbat snapped irritably. There is no way he could have returned to his brothers. I glanced up.
What are you talking about? Arbat didn't reply, so Alloran turned to me, his expression heavy.
Jahar, after the Visser left me he vanished.
What?
We couldn't find him, Arbat said. One second he was on the ramp, near my hoof, the next he was gone. It must have been the rain. I turned between them, these two very different brothers who had taken the situation out of my hands, so that I now felt like everything was spiralling out of control.
Can you be sure?
No, Alloran said firmly.
No, Arbat admitted grudgingly. He indicated the face on the screen. But how could he have returned to them in his natural state?
It would explain this desire for my return, Alloran said quietly. The Visser spent many years acquiring morphs through me. If he still lived he would not want to infest either of the arisths, if there is the option of having me back. I reached out and grabbed his hand, suddenly panicked.
But he's not getting you back! Even if he is still alive!
No, of course not, Alloran soothed.
We will find a way to rescue them then? I asked, feeling like a child in need of reassurance.
It will be dangerous, Arbat warned, but Alloran flicked him a look with his dark green eyes and he didn't say any more.
From what I have heard they risked everything to join you in your mission to save me, Alloran said softly. He lifted my chin so that I was looking up into those achingly familiar eyes. I am so very grateful Jahar. I will not let our son endure what I did, or his brave friend. He turned to Medrar and Tirdellan. But I can not ask you children to risk your lives again for me and mine. You should stay on the ship, where it is safe.
Lortif and Farling are my friends, Medrar snapped. I am coming with you.
As am I! Tirdellan said, bravely, straightening up.
No! I turned to her, weak with the horror that I might lose her as well. No, we need someone on the ship, ready to pilot us away quickly. And you must move The Jahar somewhere else, somewhere we don't know about, in case we are taken. We can not let her fall into enemy hands. Tirdellan looked like she might argue, but I reached forward with my blade and touched hers gently. You have already been more than brave enough, Tirdellan.
As have you, Jahar, Alloran said quietly.
What? I turned back to him, and he walked forward, reaching out and touching my shoulder gently.
Stay with Tirdellan. Stay safe.
No! I shouted, unable to prevent my outburst. No, I am coming with you for my son. Alloran's face clenched, as it always did when someone opposed his will.
Jahar I can not risk you again, he said, his tone gentle but somehow also threatening. You have played your part love. Let the males take it from here. I was about to reply, but Arbat got there first.
If I recall, Jahar is still 'Hak Bajeesh', he said quietly. Since she has not officially resigned her duties it is up to her who comes and who goes. Alloran turned on him in anger.
Do not be foolish, brother. You and I will command this rescue mission, and Jahar will stay here. Arbat shook his head.
I followed Jahar to Earth, he said. I still follow her as my Hak Bajeesh. I will do as she commands. The challenge in his tone was clear, and Alloran shifted angrily from side to side before turning back to me.
Jahar! Please be sensible!
I have as much of a right to rescue my son as you do, I said steadily. And more, I have a responsibility for Lortif. I am coming with you.
Fine then, Alloran snarled in an exasperated tone. Fine, you shall be Prince, Jahar. Do you have a plan? I recoiled, hurt by his temper, but I suppose it was mainly because he was unused to freedom. Moreover, it must have been frustrating as once he was freed he had instantly had a decision taken out of his hands. Still, it upset me, that we two were not loving but tense with conflict.
I have no plan, I admitted, hanging me head. Arbat laughed.
Well how fortunate for you that you have an Apex level Intelligence Adviser on your staff, he said. I have at least three.
We left Tirdellan onboard The Jahar, and watched as she lifted it up, shielding it and taking it far away so that we could not betray its location, even unwillingly. She was perfectly competent at piloting it, having grown up with it, and I was not afraid for her. She would be safe, watching us on her viewing screens. It was us who I was worried for. There were four of us: Medrar, Alloran, Arbat and me. The plan we had settled on once again relied on deceiving the Yeerks through the use of morphing. I hoped desperately it would work a second time around.
Alloran led us to the forest on the outskirts of the city, and told us how to get to the entrance to the Yeerk pool which the Yeerks had specified. Then he morphed. Arbat morphed. Medrar and I had no battle morphs to rival our own Andalite bodies, so we remained as we were but hung behind, hopefully out of sight, as we approached the entrance. We were one hour short of the deadline.
The Yeerks stood in a clearing in front of a cave which Alloran had said led to the pool. There were about thirty Hork Bajir, all armed with Dracon beams, and twenty or so humans, arrayed around the human female who had spoken to us in the transmission. She wore blue trousers, of a type which I knew were called 'jeans', and a thick vest of shredder resistant tachonite over her shirt. As some of the Hork Bajir shifted I saw that in their midst was a pair of cages, and a flicker of hope tickled through me. Lortif and Farling could be seen, in snatched glimpses as the Hork Bajir moved, standing up. They were still alive! The Yeerks tensed as there was a rustle in the bushes, and then War Prince Alloran stepped through them, into the clearing. A flurry of movement, and he was suddenly facing forty or so Dracon beams. The human female smiled, stepping forward towards him.
"So, the wayward slave has returned."
Let my son and his friend go, Alloran said stonily. The human laughed.
"In a minute, slave. First put this on." She reached behind her to take something which one of her subordinates handed her, and hurled it at Alloran's hooves. As he picked it up I saw what it was: a sheath for his tail blade. Beside me, hidden in the bushes, Medrar stiffened.
That's not part of the plan, he whispered.
It changes nothing, I hissed. As I watched Alloran turned the sheath over dubiously in his hands, but then sighed and arched his tail forward. With great dignity he buckled the sheath over his blade, then turned it this way and that to see how it fit.
Congratulations, Yeerk, you appear to have my measurements exactly, he sneered. The human gestured to some Hork Bajir, and they ran forwards and grasped Alloran's forearms roughly. One of them took hold of his tail too, to prevent him using the sheathed end as a club. Once he was secured the human stepped close to him and ran a hand over his shoulders intimately, saying something only he could hear. Alloran shied at her touch, and she laughed, turning back to the cages.
"Release the arisths!" There was a metallic grinding noise, and then the Hork Bajir stepped back to reveal Lortif and Farling in their cages, the doors of which were swinging slowly open. The human clapped her hands. "Come on out, children! Come out and play."
Lortif, Farling walk out slowly. Everything is under control, I whispered. They jumped at my voice and looked round wildly.
Mother? Farling hissed.
Stop looking for me and step out, I ordered. Tentatively Farling and Lortif came out of the cages, stepping onto the mossy floor of the clearing. The human female leaned towards Alloran and said something else in a voice too low for me to catch.
Visser Three died slowly, screaming, Yeerk, he said coldly. And so will you.
Somehow it was the wrong thing to say. The human leapt back from him, an expression of shock and anger on her face. "It's a trap! Shoot them now!" she screamed, gesturing at Lortif and Farling. She spun back to Alloran. "Shoot him too! He's a fake!" The Hork Bajir levelled their weapons at the children, and were just about to fire when suddenly a roar echoed around the clearing. Everyone in the clearing tableau froze.
Go now! I screamed. Out of the undergrowth burst Alloran, the real Alloran, and the false Alloran reared and somehow broke free from the gaping Hork Bajir holding him. They were a bit busy staring at my mate.
He didn't look like Alloran anymore. He was huge, taller than the trees ringing the clearing. And everything was done in eights. Eight giant legs supporting the squat trunk of the body, from which erupted eight long arms, each ending in a three-fingered claw. Above the top set of arms sat eight heads. And as the startled Hork Bajir stared the first head spewed a spinning ball of flame out, smashing into their midst and scattering them in panic.
This was the reason Arbat had morphed Alloran again. He had nothing to compete with my mate's arsenal of morphs, nothing to attack the Yeerks with. Alloran was a walking weapon inventory, an arsenal. He'd flipped through the catalogue the Visser had endowed him with and come up with… this.
"Shoot it!" the human female screamed. She grabbed a Dracon beam and turned it on Alloran.
TSEWW! Two arms fell off, seared right through. Alloran bellowed in pain, and she aimed again, but Arbat swung his sheathed tail. It wasn't sharp enough to take her hand off, but it knocked the weapon from her grasp, and she backed away, still roaring at her Hork Bajir to fire on him, on the arisths, on Alloran, on Medrar and me who had leapt into the fray. Hork Bajir aimed swipes at me with their sharp wrist blades, and I parried with my tail.
Aaaargh! So many of them! Whilst I blocked one another tore a gash across my chest. Dracon beams fired wildly and I heard Lortif scream, watched in horror as he stumbled, his side burnt and blood dribbling from where his left foreleg had been. I struck again and again, Medrar beside me, tail whipping. Arbat was still struggling to disentangle his blade from the sheath, and a stray Dracon beam shot hit him, vaporizing his rear legs and tail. Suddenly there was no more sheath to worry about, as he flew through the air, screaming.
Morph, brother! Alloran yelled, and as I watched Arbat demorphed, back to his own whole self, climbing back to his feet to re-enter the fight. The arisths did their best, tails snapping back and forth, beheading Hork Bajir and lopping off limbs. But Alloran was winning the day for us, his heads shooting fireballs one after another like a living Shredder cannon. The Yeerks fell back slowly at first, and then in a mad scramble to escape the flames. They disappeared into the cave, back towards the pool, and we let them go. One of the last to fall back was the human female, snarling curses at us and firing from a Dracon beam she had picked up. I ducked a shot aimed at my head, and another one took out three of Alloran's legs. Alloran lurched, bellowing in pain, and crashed to the forest floor. He started demorphing rapidly, shrinking down again to his Andalite size. The human still fired at us as he picked himself up and galloped towards me, dodging the Dracon fire.
Jahar, are you hurt? he called.
I'm fine, I shouted. Can you reach her? He turned back to the human, but she backed away into the darkness, firing madly.
"I'll have you again, slave," she shouted. "No matter how hard you try the rift will never be filled!" Alloran blanched and I turned to him, shocked. He looked as if he was going to collapse. I raced to his side to steady him.
Alloran? What is it love? He clutched my arm queasily.
Visser Three, he mumbled. That's how she knew Arbat wasn't me. That human was Visser Three.