Chapter 10

Any minor grudges were put aside, and we even gathered in the dining hall to waste away the hour that we had spare. We ate from the vast buffet and shelves hung all around with only the greatest, healthiest foods throughout the known universe. It was a foodie's heaven, and this time I didn't have to taste with the dull hawk senses. The flavors hit me like a microburst. I would take some home with me as one of the few positives for the future ahead. Ket would adore me for eternity. Even more so.

It was a nice placebo before the meeting in the assembly room. I gobbled down the last of the gloriously orange Ak-i-fo fruit and hoped that the aftertaste would last. A single-file march to the assembly room followed, guided by the ever-unfunny Groof. Though eccentric and a little socially unaware concerning Humans, the wacky black insectoid beast wasn't ignorant of the group's negative ambiance. His jokes, though well-intentioned, were never going to be enough to break to spell.

I trailed behind, staying central to the corridor so that stray blades wouldn't catch on the silken walls. Groof made a comment or two about it, but I was too aware of my immediate surroundings to really notice or care. The next two steps were far more important than the words spewed another ten away. I caught onto the change of surroundings from claustrophobic halls to a junction with circular, plain metal doors at each side.

"Here!" Groof cheered. "It's a good thing that I guided you, rather than Iiriti, because they have no eyes and cannot see!"

His raucous laughter went unaccompanied. The harsh, sneezing/wheezing sound of it was as much like Human laughter as his joke was like Human humor, anyway. Maybe he thought we were laughing in our own silent, Human way.

He squirmed with many stumpy crab legs and tapped a pincer on the surface of the door. "Assembly room. You should go in quietly because Surote and Burr-Ammit are already here. Make sure you don't hit your head. Especially you, Tobias, because your morph is too tall for the door!"

The comment was treated as another joke, but it was just another in the long line of wide misses. Groof wasn't joining us for the meeting, and though he was in no way a bad person, I simply didn't want to be around him.

With the futile intent not to draw attention to ourselves, we pushed through the round door. It was silent as an owl feather, but the contrast in light would have been plenty enough to make our arrival known. The assembly room was dark, lit mainly by holographic three-dimensional maps at the lowered front. It was like a lecture hall or a section of a coliseum. In the shadows, and with diurnal Hork-Bajir eyes, I could trace the shapes of each and every member of Team Hook, as well as a few more unfamiliar members of the ship's crew, clustered up the sloped floor, those capable of sitting doing just that while the others leaned or stood up straight.

Center-stage and proud, Surote was sketched in many shades of blue, red, and green, visible through the rotating map of some unknown section of Space, the bland white of his body a willing canvas. Behind him, I barely noticed Burr-Ammit, hidden in the far corner, awaiting his turn.

"Thank you for joining us," Surote spoke with a hint of frustration. "Take a seat anywhere. We can begin."

"What is this?" Marco queried forcefully. Jake's head span back, angered by the unwarranted demand.

"Sit down, and you'll find out," Surote countered, that previous little hint more exposed.

I got the impression that Team Hook had been less capable of forgiveness for our misgivings before, and a wave of resentment brushed our senses when we approached to take our seats. Repelled like magnets, we barged into the spaces right at the edge of the room. I sat politely behind them all, clawed hands on my knees and tail wrapped neatly around my waist.

"Welcome back," Surote announced with a clear, booming voice. "I apologize for stealing your downtime, but Burr-Ammit has returned with news that will involve you in the near term. Without mincing our words or building mystery, I'll tell you now: Next mission commences in two days' time. The goal is to disable a Kelbrid Support Station, Enrich-side of the Gratt Border. Burr-Ammit will detail."

It was left to sink in for a moment while he and the Kelbrid exchanged places between the floating, luminous maps. Burr-Ammit was less intimidating in more than just visage. He strolled on like an aging pop star making his grand return to stage, confident and assured, a grin on his face. He had the physique of that aging pop star, too, which was not quite so flattering.

"It's good to see you again," he started, pacing lightly between the holograms. "Before we start, the good news: I got you some Kelbridi Taste Beans. The best ones. You'll be dancing with the walls!"

A very light murmur of pleasure from among Team Hook. The Taste Beans were among the best foods I'd tried aboard Enrich. And equally hallucinogenic.

"Moving onto the actual news…" he continued, stepping to the map on his immediate left. He gazed into it. "During my visit, I dined with General Lupio. Despite his injuries from Andalite imprisonment, he has refused rehab and retaken his place as Commander of the Capital Base on Kyritlyp. He was very eager to discuss the next steps in the retaking of the Kelbr Belt." He swooped a hand through the hologram, flickering fingers around a red mist that formed a squiggle, like an earthworm winding its way. Then his hand dropped away, and the hologram zoomed in. The red mist was larger, but to the bottom of the image, a dotted line emerged: The Gratt Border. In-between, a blue cross glowed brightly. "They'll be sending The One to the Belt in order to disrupt Andalite communication lines. From there, they plan to infiltrate the Belt and remove all presence of Andalites and their allies. By placing a Support Station here," he pointed at the blue cross, "they will have a secure path to the Belt and a clean escape route should the Andalites counter. The Support Station is a direct link for The One and allows its reach further through space." He looked directly at us as if to illustrate specifically. "Just like an internet router."

Their heads nodded in understanding. Mine remained steady, more perplexed about Burr-Ammits eyes spending an uneasy amount of time on mine. He broke the link and went back to the details.

"We cannot allow a Kelbrid creation with such incredible power to destabilize Andalite Space and its inhabitants," he said with gusto. "The consequences of a Belt invasion would be catastrophic. The inhabitants are notoriously aggressive and will not surrender until every single one is dead, and nor will the Kelbrids and allies allow the Belt to remain in Andalite territory. Millions will die. It is inevitable. To avoid this, we will stop The One from proceeding to the Belt and poisoning the area. Disabling the new Support station will ensure that The One cannot reach the Belt. Team Hook, Animorphs, we believe that you are the right people for this mission."