Chapter Three

Unanimously, the Council voted in favor of my plan. A sign of how desperate we were, I was sure. I didn’t know if Agrath was pleased or furious with me as we made our way back to my private quarters. I prepared to find out exactly what she thought as soon as we were alone, but for a long while she just stared at me, her expression unreadable. Not that Hork-Bajir expressions are ever anything but horrifying.

(What?) I asked at last, unable to stand the silence.

“You are…an incredibly odd creature.” She said at last, her head cocked as if she were trying to figure me out. I rolled my main eyes.

(Thanks for noticing.) I said dryly. (You think I’m insane, don’t you?)

“Yes.” Agrath nodded, “Instead of a quick hit and run attack you actually want to commandeer an Andalite ship. An Andalite ship without weapons. Then you want to take that ship into Taxxon space and try to regain the planet. You want to take over a planet with a food transport. Yes, yes I thnk you are insane.”

(Hey, this whole thing was your idea to begin with.) I protested, (besides, think about if we succeed!)

“Think about if we don’t.” Agrath said bluntly. “You are letting your emotions control you again.”

(And you are being too rational again.) I retorted, (Sometimes you need to do things that are risky. With a large risk comes an even larger reward.)

“True…” Agrath admitted. I knew I was appealing to her better interests. Agrath was still an assassin, even though she hadn’t had a mercenary job in quite some time. She knew the benefit of a big kill. “And if we fail?”

(If we fail, well then that’s ball game.) I said, shrugging my narrow shoulders. Death didn't bother me like it had, once. (But the rest of the Council – they’re right. We can’t just sit around waiting for hosts to arrive at our doorstep. We need to be proactive.)

“Alright…” Agrath said, nodding reluctantly, “I suppose your idea has…merit. It is not as if we have anything left to lose.”

(Yes!) I cried, probably with more enthusiasm than was necessary. Agrath shook her head balefully.

“I still think you are insane.” She said, before walking out.

“Re-entering normal space in one minute, Visser.” One of the bridge officers noted.

(Cloak our ship immediately upon re-entry.) I ordered, (Weapons at the ready.)

“Yes ma’am.”

Zero-space is a very boring place. It is, essentially, the opposite of reality. Planets, stars, special debris, all of the junk that fills up normal space and allows life to flourish simply does not exist in Z-Space. The result is a whole lot of nothing. Blank whiteness, which is at once flat and depthless stretches out and out and out. I still don’t understand it entirely, but I understand its uses. Z-space can be used to tunnel from one section of the galaxy to the next. We had begun near an abandoned solar system near the center of the galaxy. We would emerge on one of the outer arms, near the solar system holding Earth.

It’s always a bit of a shock, when you suddenly shift from Z-space to normal shift. The white changes to black, with trillions of stars shining brightly. It is even more shocking when you emerge near a planet. One minute there is nothing there, and the next there is a massive sphere, simply hovering in front of you, so large that it is hard to comprehend.

This was the effect we experienced now, as we re-entered normal space. We were several million miles from our goal, which was Mars. The red planet hovered, half concealing the blue and white sphere behind it. Earth. I quickly turned my gaze away and studied the computer data.

(It appears that the remainder of the trip will take approximately one day.) I said. (Until we arrive at our destination I want everyone on full alert. This sector of space is teeming with Andalite filth.)

“Yes, Visser.”

I noticed Agrath. She was at her station, although she was staring out the view screen instead of at the controls. I went over to her and followed her gaze. There was nothing unusual to see, although I had to push away a nervous jolt as I looked out at Earth again.

(Agrath?) I asked privately. (What is it?)

“It is nothing.” Agrath said softly, too low for the other crewmen to hear. She turned her gaze and gave me a look I hated. It was the look she wore when she was about to give me an order, and I had to pretend it was my own idea. “I was just wondering what it would do for our efforts if we were able to rescue him.”

I felt my hearts grind to a halt. There was only one person Agrath could mean. It had been years since we were enemies, months since I had seen him at all, and still the very thought of him made me shiver with hatred and fear. Esplin Nine-Four-Six-Six the Prime. Visser One.

(Agrath.) I said, keeping my thoughts steady. I heard my host, Rekora, laughing in my head. She enjoyed my fear. (We would stand no chance. It’s risky enough attacking a transport. You want to try and rescue the most guarded prisoner on the planet? It would never work. We would all die before we even came close.)

“I suppose so.” Agrath said, but she still had that look in her eyes. When she spoke her guttural voice had a cutting finality to it, “But once we take back the Taxxon world, when our forces are stronger, then we will retrieve him.”

(Sure.) I said, with a sigh of relief. At least I wouldn’t have to worry about it yet. There would be plenty of chances to die on my own before I did so trying to save Visser One.

Suddenly a beeping noise rose from one of the computer panels, drawing me away from Agrath.

(What is it?) I asked. One of the bridge technicians looked over at the display.

“Someone gershat hailing us.” The Hork-Bajir Controller said.

(What someone? Who is it?) I demanded urgently. We had been out of Z-space for five minutes and already things were blowing up in my face.

“It is an Andalite guard.” Fordat reported from his station, “It seems our cloaking technology is not quite as advanced as we thought it was. They have detected a ship in the vicinity, although I do not believe they have recognized it as Yeerk.”

“Do they have a lock on our position?” Agrath asked, her eyes narrowed at the viewscreen. I could see the Andalite ship in the distance. It was a larger version of an Andalite fighter. Squat, with two stubby wings and an arching shredder which resembled the Andalite tail. This particular ship also had two large engines attached. Z-space engines. It was about a third of the size of a transport ship, maybe two or three times as large as a fighter.

“No,” Fordat said. “They only know we are here. The transmission they sent is wide-range, so any ships in the vicinity would have picked it up.”

(Play the transmission.) I ordered. A moment later an Andalite voice filled the room.

(Uncloak your ship and report your purpose in this system. Do not attempt to advance further into this system. If necessary, physical force will be taken.)

(Well they certainly haven’t gotten any friendlier.) I muttered. To everyone I said, (Do not respond, and keep shields up. Let’s see how close we can get before they have a lock on us. We may be able to get by them without their noticing.)

“I have a lock on a transport ship preparing to leave the system.” Another officer said.

“This far from the planet?” Agrath asked, “Why?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps it is rendezvousing with the guard ship?”

(How far?) I asked.

“Two million miles. It will reach the guard ship in about an hour, if that is where it’s heading.”

(Alright.) I said, taking in the situation. The perfect opportunity had presented itself, a rare occurrence for me. (We’ll attack when the transport reaches the guard ship. The guard will be preoccupied with the other ship, it won’t anticipate an attack. A transport won’t be equipped with weapons and it will get in the way of the guard.)

“What if it isn’t going to the guard?” Fordat asked.

(Then we attack as soon as it looks like it might make for Zero-space.) I said.

“Fordat, what is the ships cargo?” Agrath asked.

“Um…” He checked the monitor, “It looks as if it is carrying large quantities of the Earth dessert known as ice cream.”

For a moment I just stared at him. (You mean to tell me that we’re going to be attempting to take over a planet inhabited by carnivorous worms in an ice cream truck?) I asked.

“Yes, Visser.” Fordat said, “It appears so.”

I couldn’t help it. I started laughing. I laughed so hard that I felt a bit lightheaded. A few of the human controllers joined in, fully realizing the ridiculousness of the situation. The others looked confused. Agrath just looked agitated.

“Visser.” She said testily, “I think we should concentrate on the task at hand.”

(Yes, yes, of course.) I chucked, (Come on guys, let’s get us some ice cream.)

A/N: I seem to be beginning a pattern of ending chapters with dessert food. I think I might be going through cravings or something, lol. Anyhow, the next chapter is the epic battle for the ice cream truck! I’ll post it soon! Please R/R and I hope you enjoyed the chap!

-T.