I raised my shredder and pointed it at Alloran … no, at Sub-Visser Seven.

<You made Chapman a Controller. You were in his head. That Hork-Bajir I thought was you … just a trick.>

<Of course. And another of my people made Loren one of us,> he sneered. <And while you so considerately worked to clear away the Time Matrix, I revived Alloran and transferred myself into him. The first and only Andalite-Controller! It was so kind of you to knock the old warrior out for me. I didn’t know how I was ever going to take him. He was a wily creature. A bit mad, of course, but he knew war. You saw how ruthless he was in tossing out the poor Hork-Bajir who played the role of me. Yes, Alloran was a warrior.>

The truth hit me like a brick wall. It was true! I had made it possible for the sub-visser to take control of Alloran!

I had created the abomination!

<Chapman told us about the Time Matrix, of course. But we needed you to show us where it was. The attack by the Mountain Taxxons could have disrupted everything, but you know, in the end it was convenient. It kept you from growing suspicious. You were too busy worrying about your fellow aristh. You didn’t even have time to wonder how the two humans just happened to be waiting for you. You didn’t wonder why my troops let you escape.>

I had done this! I had created this abomination! I had delivered the Time Matrix into the hands of this vile creature!

<But you know the best part?> The sub-visser laughed. <I really couldn’t have let you burn that transport ship full of my people. Chapman didn’t know about the Yeerks in that transport, so neither did I. And if you’d gone along with Alloran I’d have had to try to stop you. So would my brother Yeerk in the human girl. It was one thing to sacrifice the poor fool who played the role of me. But ten thousand Yeerks? No, I’d have had to act, and then you and Alloran together would have most likely made short work of me.>

I couldn’t breathe. I had failed. Failed so enormously that the entire Andalite species was at risk!

<But no, Elfangor is one of those good Andalites,> Sub-Visser Seven sneered. <You don’t go in for slaughtering the helpless, do you? Hah-hah! Wonderful! Your qualms delivered Alloran to me. Alloran and the Time Matrix. Mine!>

<Really?> I said faintly. <I seem to be the one holding the shredder.>

<There are a dozen Bug fighters closing in right now. You’ve lost, little one.>

<You’ll be a cinder by the time they get here,> I threatened.

<No, you won’t kill a helpless foe,> he sneered. <I have no weapon! I am your prisoner! Hah-hah! I surrender to you, Elfangor. I surrender!>

He spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness as he laughed at me. Laughed.

<You’re right, Sub-Visser. I won’t kill you.> I squeezed the trigger. The stun-setting knocked the foul Andalite-Controller to the ground.

I ran to Loren. I dragged her unconscious body up the ramp into the Jahar. Then, after a second’s hesitation, I dragged Chapman aboard, too.

I was just beginning to try dragging the sub-visser to the ship when the first wave of Bug fighters blew by overhead. They shot past, then began to inscribe tight circles, coming back toward us.

Two more Bug fighters. Then two more. The sky was filling with Bug fighters. I would never get the Jahar off the planet.

Unless …

Had Sub-Visser Seven informed his people that he might be in an Andalite body? Surely. Surely he would have. He would have had to, just to avoid being accidentally shot by his own people.

But could the Yeerks tell one Andalite from another?

I raced to the ship, tore open the medical kit and yanked out a stimulant hypo. I ran back to the unconscious sub-visser and I emptied the stimulant into his bloodstream. It would revive him in less than a minute.

Bug fighters were hovering overhead now, some preparing to land. I ran back to the Jahar, closed the hatch, and punched up the ship-to-ship communication.

The face of a Hork-Bajir-Controller appeared on my communications screen. It stared at me with the fury and distaste Yeerks always show for Andalites.

I stared straight back. And in loud, arrogant, harsh thought-speak I said, <What? You don’t recognize your sub-visser? Hah-hah! I have done it, you fool! As I said I would. I have acquired an Andalite body!>

The Hork-Bajir eyes wavered, uncertain.

If I showed any hesitation, I was lost. If I was to pass as a Yeerk sub-visser, I could not show any doubt. <You see the Andalite down on the ground?>

“Yes … Sub-Visser Seven.”

<Good, you’re not blind as well as stupid. I want to see him run. Do you understand me! As soon as I have lifted off, make him run! And then, when he is good and tired, when his knees buckle with exhaustion, make him dead. Dead! And if you fail me, I will feed you to the Taxxons. Sub-Visser Seven, out.>

I switched off the screen without waiting for an answer. Maybe it would work. Maybe not.

I keyed the controls, lifting the Jahar gently from the ground. I switched on an exterior view and panned the viewfinder till I framed the sub-visser. He was just climbing to his feet.

I’ll give the sub-visser credit for one thing: He was not an idiot. He knew instantly what was happening. He broke into a run, just as a hovering Bug fighter fired a Dracon beam near him.

I let the Jahar drift casually over the Skrit Na wreck. Focusing all my attention, I powered the Jahar’s tractor beam and latched it onto the white sphere of the Time Matrix.

Sub-Visser Seven was running at full Andalite speed across the sand, pursued by teasing, taunting Bug fighters that seemed to enjoy shooting within inches of him.

The Jahar rose, with the Time Matrix in two. I pulled the machine closer and closer, snugged it up into the Jahar’s belly, and lashed it in place with energy ropes. We rose up through the atmosphere of the Taxxon world. Up through the weird, bright clouds.

Only then did it begin to dawn on the Yeerks.

The ship-to-ship snapped on. An ugly, suspicious Hork-Bajir face glared at me. “Sub-Visser Seven, planet control respectfully directs you to land.”

I tried bluffing some more. But when I refused to immediately turn back and land, they knew.

Tactical showed a swarm of Bug fighters rising up from the surface of the planet. But it was too late.

I punched up a hard burn and prepared to lose myself in Zero-space.