Arbron and I tore that Skrit Na computer download apart. And before we translated into Zero-space we had a destination in mind. One of the last places in the universe that any sensible Andalite would ever want to go.

The Taxxon home world.

As we spent timeless time traveling through the blank white nondistance of Zero-space, Alloran called a council. It was just for the three of us, but the Jahar was too small for us to keep the two humans out. They squatted on the floor near our hooves.

We excluded them from our thought-speak at first, keeping our conversation private.

<The Taxxon home world is our destination,> Alloran said. <But the Skrit Na would not be taking the Time Matrix there. So I believe the Skrit Na don’t know what they have. They saw strange power patterns and decided, with the usual Skrit Na simplemindedness, to steal first and figure it out later.>

<I agree, sir,> Arbron said. <If they knew they had the Time Matrix they’d do one of two things. Head straight for the Yeerk home world to sell it to the Yeerks. Or else head home to use it for their own people. But the Taxxon home world is —>

“Hey. Hey!” Chapman interrupted. “You’re doing your little telepathy thing and keeping us out. I’m not an idiot.”

<This does not involve either of you,> I said curtly.

Chapman stood up and grabbed me roughly by the shoulder. I twitched my tail out of reflex. No Andalite would ever grab another Andalite.

Chapman laughed rudely. “You don’t scare me. I know you can kill us both. But that’s not your style, is it? Dragging us off across the galaxy is your style.”

<We have an emergency,> I said. <We regret that we cannot take you straight back to your planet. However —>

“However nothing,” Chapman said. “This little trip involves danger, doesn’t it? You boys are in deep. Like I said, I’m not an idiot. I can see you three are tense. I can see you’re worried. Wherever it is we’re going, you’re scared. Which means me and the girl here should be afraid, too, right?”

Loren stood up and looked right at me. “Is that true, Elfangor? Are you taking us into danger?”

I turned one eye toward Alloran. He nodded slightly, giving me permission.

<Yes, Loren,> I said. <We are going into terrible danger. If we are taken, the two of you will be killed or enslaved.>

Chapman’s eyes blazed. “You’re dragging us into a battle and we can’t even know what’s going on? Is that Andalite fairness?”

I started to tell the annoying creature to be silent, but Alloran spoke.

<You two aliens have a right to know what you are being “dragged into,” as you put it. We are going to a planet of creatures who are allies of the Yeerks. The Yeerks are parasites who seize control of the bodies and minds of other creatures. The Taxxons have been enslaved this way. By their own choice.>

I said, <The Skrit Na have apparently discovered the long-lost Time Matrix. This is a device that allows people to move forward or backward in time. It is the most dangerous weapon imaginable.>

“Why would a time machine be a weapon?” Loren asked.

But Chapman had already figured it out. “Duh. I go back in time and change history to wipe you out in the present. I could kill your parents before they had you, and you’d never exist.” He grinned. “Better yet, I could go all the way back in time, back to prehistoric days and find the earliest ancestors of humans and kill them. The entire human race would cease to exist.” Chapman laughed. “I see why you guys are worried. If these Yeerks of yours get this thing, it’s bye-bye Andalites.”

That did it. I didn’t like this creature. I didn’t care if he was just a primitive alien, I didn’t like him. I pushed my face close to his. I brought my tail up into a threat position. <You’d better understand something, human. If it’s “bye-bye” Andalites, it’ll be “bye-bye” humans, sooner or later. Who do you think keeps the Yeerks from conquering every sentient race in the galaxy? We do.>

“Maybe I’m with the wrong aliens,” Chapman sneered. “Maybe it’s too bad I wasn’t grabbed by the Yeerks. They sound like the winners.”

To my surprise, Prince Alloran actually laughed. <You may be right, human. But you’d better hope you’re not. I’ve seen what the Yeerks do to captive planets. I was there when the Yeerks took the Hork-Bajir world. Pray to whatever primitive gods you have, human, that the Yeerks don’t ever take your world.>

I shot a glance at Arbron. He was as surprised as I was. Alloran had been there at the loss of the Hork-Bajir world?

The loss of the Hork-Bajir was the single biggest disaster in our war with the Yeerks. The Hork-Bajir were the slave warriors of the Yeerk Empire now because we’d failed to save them.

<Translation to normal space in one minute,> the computer announced without emotion.

<Okay,> Alloran said, breaking the spell he had cast over us all. <We’ll be coming out of Z-space fairly close to the Taxxon world. The area will be thick with Yeerk ships. The Jahar has excellent stealth shielding, but we may still be detected. From now on, we are on battle alert.>

<What’s the plan?> Arbron asked nervously. <What do we do?>

Alloran laughed. <What’s the plan? We locate the Skrit Na ship. And if it has landed, we go down after it and take back the Time Matrix. Of course, we’d be a little obvious walking around as Andalites. So …>

<Down to the surface of the Taxxon world?> I asked in horror. <You mean … sir, are you planning for us to morph Taxxons?>

Alloran looked very seriously at Arbron and me. <You two arisths are going to have to grow up very fast now. I need warriors at my side. Are you ready to be warriors?>

In my daydreams as a young aristh I had imagined a moment like this. I had imagined a time coming when I would be called upon to be brave and to save my people. And in my imagination I had always faced this kind of moment with pride and without fear.

And now, suddenly, my daydream was reality. And all I felt was sick dread.

The Taxxon world! It was a place from a nightmare.

<We’re ready, Prince Alloran,> I said, as boldly as I could. <We are ready to be your warriors. We’re not afraid.>

I saw Arbron’s face. He was as sick with fear as I was. But still he managed to smirk. He knew me too well.

He knew I was lying.