#12 – Moon
Ax
I stared up at Earth's single moon and tried not to feel hatred.
That moon was the cause of all of my troubles. It was the reason I was alone, the reason Elfangor was dead, the reason the Yeerks were swiftly infiltrating human culture almost uncontested.
If not for that dead ball of dust, the Yeerks would not have had anywhere to hide their Blade Ship. Never mind the fact that using natural obstructions to hide space forces was the oldest trick in the lexicon; Captain Nerefir should have known. Even when we popped out of Z-space and were immediately swarmed by Bug fighters, he should have known. The Pool Ship had not been an immediate threat, and Bug fighters are little more than a nuisance to a Dome Ship.
Glory, glory, glory. It was all about glory. Nerefir should have dispatched a fighter wing to check the dark side of the moon; it's what I would have done. Captain Nerefir was blinded by visions of what destroying an elusive Yeerk Pool Ship would do for his career, and he had grown overconfident in his old age. He cost hundreds of brave Andalite warriors, including my brother, their lives with his foolishness. He had cost my people a valuable resource in the GalaxyTree. He had cost the humans their best chance of remaining free.
As I looked up at the glowing ball in the dark Earth sky, I realized it wasn't hatred I felt. It was shame. My people, while normally polite enough not to come out and say it, believe themselves to be superior to other species. I found myself wondering if Prince Jake would have made the same mistake as Old Hoof and Tail Nerefir. The answer was no. Jake would have never, ever let pride bring danger to those under his command. He understands that pride is more of a weakness than a strength. He has pride, and lots of it…but he also understands that pride must be set aside in wartime.
The human child known as Jake could have taught our own great Captain-Prince Nerefir a great many lessons, and that made me feel ashamed. It confused me.
We were waiting for my people to come and save the humans. In my secret heart, I believe that, if both of our peoples survive, it might be the other way around.
Secretly, I believe the humans might just end up saving Andalites.
From ourselves.