Chapter 9

A small Kelbrid cruiser arrived at Enrich with a crew of one. Surote, as punishment for our performance with Team Hook, had sent us to aid in the disembarkation by emptying the cargo hold and moving the ship deeper into the hangar, something that he felt we were infinitely more capable of doing. So we finished our lunch and headed down to the docking bay just as the cruiser was settling down, keeping well clear as the thrusters heated the local air.

The egg-shaped, minimalistic ship kneeled, bending hydraulic legs to allow its belly to touch down. Three compartments opened up inside, granting us access to the small crates and barrels of supplies that were only a tiny portion of Enrich's daily intake. When blue lights showed, our permission to get to work was granted. I morphed Hork-Bajir again, preparing for a couple of hours of heavy lifting. I was grateful for the time-wasting opportunity.

We directed over a few cargo transporters. Marco and Santorelli were given the duty of guiding them to stores when fully loaded and return them when emptied. The rest of us were to take items from the belly of the ship and load them onto the empty transporters. Nobody complained about the job at hand because there was more exciting stuff going on around us. Both Surote and Asaccah were present. That was not common practice for stock deliveries.

I was beside Menderash. Jake was inside the ship, pushing boxes and barrels in my direction so that I could lift them out. Menderash was stacking them onto the transporter with Marco ready to move it away. When it was full, Marco left, and we had to wait for Santorelli to return with the next transporter. In between all the rushing workers and moving cargo, Surote and Asaccah were approaching, chatting like business associates, a small team of high-rankers with them.

((It must be the Kelbrid,)) I heard Menderash consider. ((He's not with the Yeerk and the traitor.))

I noted his sneer and responded privately. ((You still have reservations about this place.))

((Yes. I do. Are you surprised?))

I took another glance at Surote, who had stopped just before the ship. He was about ten meters from us, casually conversing with the others. ((No.))

((You saw what he had. There were hundreds of Yeerks in that room, all of them just recently imprisoned. He, himself, is a Yeerk, and I do not doubt that the evil of the Yeerk Empire still runs in his blood.))

I reached for the next crate as Jake dragged it over. He didn't pay attention to Menderash or me. Menderash didn't involve him. I wrapped large arms around the crate and hoisted it down from the ledge. ((Even after all they've done for us?))

((What they've done for us?)) Menderash huffed. ((I've seen no benefit to our involvement with them.))

((They've given us new technology. They've given us the chance to find Ax.))

((A façade!)) Menderash spat. ((We're doing their dirty work and making no progress to achieving our mission. We are little more than ants to them. And what's worse, a new Yeerk army is being formed right under our noses.))

((And what if they're genuine, huh?)) I argued. ((Maybe we need to be a little more patient.))

((Patient for who? A Yeerk?!))

((One Yeerk,)) I replied. ((Members of hundreds of races. They can't all have come together only for the good of the Yeerks. What about Asaccah?))

I wasn't looking at that moment, more focused on rolling the barrel from the ship without crushing my T-Rex feet. The bang of Menderash's crate hitting the floor pulled both me and Jake from our work. Jake knew immediately that something was going on, and he scanned us both suspiciously.

((You can't possibly tell me that you believe Asaccah to be sane,)) Menderash growled. ((You've seen it yourself. He's mad. In no way can we trust him.))

The dropped crate had drawn the attention of Surote and Asaccah. They glanced past the side of the ship to witness us. Jake, unwilling to make a scene, waved a finger at the fallen item, and Menderash reluctantly reached at the floor to retrieve it. The watching gazes averted.

"What's going on?" Jake asked quietly.

Menderash kept his eyes on Jake's, even as he placed the crate neatly to the side. "Nothing."

Santorelli arrived with the empty transporter and helped Menderash pile on the contents. His reappearance did nothing to dissuade the negative mood.

((Jake knows it, too,)) Menderash soon added. ((And yet he continues down this path.))

((You talk to him,)) I said. ((If you have a problem, I'm not the one to speak to.))

He left it at that, and we continued wordlessly, though not without a sense of growing tension. I felt my mind starting to sink, disappearing beneath that of my morphed body. It dissolved into dim optimism, and for a while, it stayed.

It dissipated when the ship's one and only occupant emerged down the ramp. Burr-Ammit, Enrich's only Kelbrid member, was in a jovial mood as he strolled down to Surote and Asaccah. The chunky, boisterous Kelbrid had a solid laugh about something he'd noticed about them and was soon engaging in light-hearted discussion. Something about Space traffic. We paid limited attention.

And then something caught our ears. The implants in our brains allowed us to understand every known alien language to Enrich and its occupants, to translate and communicate with intelligent races from all around the universe, from the most advanced to the most obscure. Or so we were told.

Burr-Ammit started to yelp, click and growl in a carefully constructed pattern. Jake and Menderash were quick to notice, and so was I. Surote replied using the same complex set of sounds as the pair and Asaccah turned away from the ship. Burr-Ammit studied us as they moved but continued to talk in the secretive language until they disappeared through a circular door at the side of the hangar. Alone.

((You saw that,)) Menderash spoke, reinvigorated. ((Secrets. They have plenty of them.))

((Everybody has secrets,)) I countered.

He looked just about ready to drop another crate. This time, his fingers retained their grasp. ((I have no secrets.))

((Sure, Eddy.))

The last of the cargo was loaded, and Santorelli took it away to storage. I stretched to loosen my muscles, keeping silent from the stony glances Jake and Menderash exchanged. Menderash's paranoia was causing a rift, and Jake knew that all too well. It wasn't my problem, and it would have been beyond my bounds to interfere. It wasn't the only source of strain among us.

We were going to leave, retreat to our private quarters for yet more reflection, tug at the proverbial strings that tied us together. It was infinitely more comfortable than bathing each other in pointless passive-aggressive accusations. But before we could depart, once Marco and Santorelli had both returned, we were stopped in our tracks. Surote had re-entered the hangar, and we crossed paths. When his movement angled in our direction, we knew that we were needed yet again. Our group stopped, and the mechanical being clumped forward to address us. He showed no anger or frustration, but nor was he chirpy or upbeat. He was entirely emotionless, and that was a bad sign.

"Animorphs. Thank you for helping with the disembarkation. Burr-Ammit shares his gratitude."

"No problem," Jake replied dryly.

"Before you leave," Surote said as we were ready to walk away, "Burr-Ammit brings news. It regards The One. You will join us in the assembly room in one hour."