(You're a telepath, are you not?) the third Andalite asked, sounding as though he wished for nothing more than to find out everything that Shara was capable of.
(We can speak about that later,) the first Andalite, who seemed to be leading this particular trio – if not the ship as a whole – said. (I am Samilin-Corrath-Gahar, captain of this ship. My tactical officer Hareli-Frodlin-Sirinial, and our ship's physician, Doctor Coadwin-Ashul-Tahaylik. Now, what in yaolin are you three doing, drifting around in Zero-space with five other aliens?)
(Are the others all right?) Slade demanded, before anyone else could say anything.
(Yes!) Doctor Coaldwin exclaimed, looking as though he would have stepped forward, if not for the Captain standing so close to him. (The five of them are quite well. But, their own physiology seems to be a near-exact match for your own! Well, four of them, at least, as they are bipedal but also seem to completely lack any kind of tail! The remaining alien is evidently designed for flight, and-)
(Yes, thank you, Doctor,) Captain Samilin interrupted. (I'm certain you've made some interesting discoveries, but the question we have for the aristh is what was he doing in Zero-space with these… fascinating aliens.)
Making his way over to Shara and Slade, wanting to make sure that Slade in particular would not attack Captain Samilin or any of his people, he shared a speaking glance with Shara before returning his attention to the Captain. (Captain, I was in morph. In a very small morph. Then, I heard a popping sound, and then I was in Z-space.)
(What?) the doctor exclaimed, main eyes bright with obvious excitement. (You are the extruded mass from a low-mass morph? It's impossible!) the doctor paused for a long moment, clearly attempting to gather his composure once again. (I mean, it's not impossible, perhaps, but it's never happened. This will annihilate every existing theory of morph mass displacement! This will be a scientific breakthrough of-)
(Yes, it doubtless will be,) Captain Samilin snapped, sounding rather more impatient. (But, as fascinating as it is scientifically, I have a bigger question,) Captain Samilin turned his main eyes on Aximili, and he found himself fighting not to cringe. (We know how you came to be floating in Zero-space, Aristh Aximili, but how did those aliens come to be here, since only Andalites possess the morphing power?)
(That's a long story,) Shara said, folding her arms across her armored chest.
(None of us asked you, alien!) the Tactical Officer roared.
(Apologies, sir,) he said, stepping closer so that he could put a calming hand on Shara's right arm; Slade was still a silent, looming presence beside the pair of them. (I haven't seen a fellow Andalite for a very long time, and I was beginning to think I never would. I was beginning to think I would be stuck on Earth forever.)
(Just give me your report, Aristh,) Captain Samilin said, his tone mildly gentler, to match the slight gentling of the Tactical Officer's expression.
(Yes, Captain,) Aximili said, gathering his composure once more, even as he asked Shara and particularly Slade to remain silent and allow him to handle things. (I have been marooned on Earth for approximately point seven standard Andalite years. I believe that I am the only survivor of the battle between the Dome ship that I was stationed on and a Yeerk Pool ship. The Pool ship was assisted by a Blade ship belonging to Visser Three.) A brief, disgusted sound came from the Tactical Officer, and Aximili pressed on. (The Dome was separated prior to combat, and… I was in the Dome. I mean, it wasn't by choice. I was ordered to the Dome,) he stopped short for a moment, finding Shara's armored hand on his right shoulder; he sighed, returning her nod then turning his attention back to Captain Samilin. (Anyway, the Dome fell from orbit and crashed in one of Earth's oceans. I was down there, underwater, for several Earth weeks until the humans came to rescue me.)
(The same humans who are now in sickbay?) Doctor Coaldwin asked.
(Yes,) he said.
(They used some human diving craft?) the Tactical Officer asked.
(No. They morphed into aquatic animals and rescued me,) he said, leaning a bit farther into the comfort that Shara had chosen to offer to him.
Captain Samilin's main eyes tightened warily. (They morphed. And, how exactly did they gain the morphing ability?)
(From me, sir,) Aximili said, gripping Shara's armored hand all the more tightly as he obeyed the orders he had been given by Andalite High Command the first – and, to date, only – time he'd been able to make contact with the Homeworld. (I gave them the morphing capability.)
(I see,) Captain Samilin said, giving Aximili a flat look. (You are not a good liar, Aximili.)
(Sir?) he asked, gripping Shara's armored hand tightly enough that he could feel the armored joints of her fingers poking into his skin.