I pushed the chair away from the computer workstation. I began typing on the antique key board. The screen asked me for a password.
"Password?" I laughed. I disabled the security system and confirmed that Marco's father's new software was already in place.
Good. That would make it easier. As quickly as I could, I wrote in a virus that would swiftly transform the software that controlled the radio telescope.
Since humans had no awareness of Zero- space, they did not understand that a powerful radio receiver could be tuned in such a way as to create a Z-space vacuum and open a cross-dimensional gateway.
Once I had opened a small hole in Z-space, it was child's play to use the same receivers to modulate and reflect the background radiation into a coherent signal. The hard part would be using thought-speech to control the signal. That would take absolute concentration.
"Still --- out here," Tobias said.
I hoped the word I couldn't hear was "okay."
It took about ten Earth minutes to adjust the radio telescope. Ten minutes, and I had moved human science ahead by a century or so.
Ten minutes to completely violate Andalite law.
I was done. The system was ready.
I pressed the "enter" key.
The thousands of lines of computer language disappeared from the computer's screen.
The screen went blank.
I focused my mind as sharply as I could. I pictured the coherent signal. I pictured that beam going through my own head.
57 "Andalite Home," I thought. "Andalite Home."
The screen flickered.
A face appeared. It was a hard, suspicious face. But it was an Andalite face.
"Who is this?" the Andalite demanded. "This is a high security link. You are not an authorized sender. State your name and location."
"My name is Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill. Brother of Elfangor-Sirinial-Shamtul. Son of Noorlin- Sirinial-Cooraf and Forlay-Esgarrouth-Maheen."
The Andalite stared at me. "Elfangor's brother?" he wondered. "What is your location?"
"My location is the planet called Earth."
58 Chapter Nine
"Earth!"
"Yes."
"Is Prince Elfangor with you?"
For a moment my concentration wavered. I lost the signal. But then, I forced myself to focus.
This was too important to let my emotions mess things up.
"Who are you?" I asked.
He looked surprised that I would ask. "I am Ithileran-Halas-Corain. Assistant to the Head of Planetary Communications^ "Thank you. Ithileran, my brother's life . . . ended," I said. "The Dome ship was destroyed. I am the only survivor."
I could see that this was a surprise. Ithileran's eyes were downcast, and he lowered his stalk eyes as well in a gesture of grief.
"Your brother was a great warrior. And I mourn also for the many other warriors aboard the Dome ship."
"Elfangor was the greatest," I said. "My family doesn't know he's dead. I would like you to connect me with them. I could get interrupted any minute."
"I will do that. As soon as your family is found, I will connect you. But first, give me your report, aristhAximili."
I tried to quickly organize my thoughts. "The Yeerks are here in force. There is at least one mother ship. Also one Blade ship belonging to Visser Three, and numerous Bug fighters. The humans are unaware of the invasion. I do not know how many humans have been made into Controllers, but there must be thousands, at least."
I took a deep breath, and tried to hold onto my concentration. How much should I tell Ithileran?
"Then Earth is lost to the Yeerks?"
"No!" I said sharply. "Earth is not lost. There is a small resistance. A few humans. Young . .
. arisths, like me. I fight alongside them."
"But surely there is no hope of victory?"
"We have hurt the Yeerks," I said. "We have destroyed the Kandrona that was in place on this planet."
That got Ithileran's attention. That definitely got his attention. "You destroyed a Yeerk Kandrona? How did you manage that? You and a handful of human youths?" 59 It was time to tell him the full truth, or decide to lie.
"The humans ... the humans have the power to morph," I said. "Visser Three believes they are a small band of escaped Andalites. Earth has many strange animals, and with the morphing we use those species to attack the Yeerks."
"Humans who morph? And how did humans come by this technology?"
"It was given to them. By Elfangor."
Ithileran looked startled. His eyes darted to the side and then he abruptly disappeared from the screen. In his place stood another Andalite.
I was stunned. I instantly recognized the face.
He was very old, and yet his power seemed to vibrate through the screen, across all the light years that separated Earth from home.
Lirem-Arrepoth-Terrouss.
Head of the Council. Veteran of more battles than I could count. His appearance on the screen would have made me lose concentration, but I was too awed to dare.
"You know who I am?"
"Yes. Yes, um. Yes. Yes, I know you. I mean, I don't know you, but I know who you are." He ignored my babbling. "I mourn the loss of your brother and all aboard that ship. Now tell me: Did Elfangor break our laws and give technology to the humans?"
"Um, well ... the humans were helpless. Our force had been destroyed. There was nothing to stand between the humans and total domination by the Yeerks. They needed some weapon." Lirem stared at me with a gaze that was known to make great princes tremble.
"And how have you come to contact us? This is a Z-space transmissions "I ... I ... I made some modifications to a primitive human device."
"So, you also break the law. You also transfer technology to the humans."
"The humans are not our enemies!" I said. I surprised myself by practically yelling. "They won't have a chance. These few humans are all that resist the Yeerks on this planet. Elfangor knew that. He did what he thought was right!"
To my surprise, Lirem did not tell me to be silent. But his eyes grew darker, his expression more serious than ever. Then he said, " AristhAximili, once before an Andalite did what he thought was the right thing. He transferred technology to a weak, backward species. He did it be cause he thought they should be able to travel to the stars. Do you know the name of that Andalite?"
60 "Prince Seerow," I said.
"Prince Seerow. Yes. He was my first prince. Did you know that? Many centuries ago when I was an aristhlike you." Lirem looked hard at me.
"Do you know what happened because of Seerow's Kindness?"
"Yes," I said grimly. "Yes, I know. I have seen what happened because of Seerow's Kindness."
For a moment no one spoke.
Then Lirem said, "Young Aximili, your brother Elfangor is a hero. The people need heroes in this endless war. I do not wish to tell the people that in the end, Elfangor broke the laws.
There can be no forgiveness for a prince that breaks the laws. Unlike an aristh. So ... I ask you to think again. Was it truly Elfangor who gave this technology to the humans?" I couldn't believe what Lirem wanted me to say. He wanted me to lie. He wanted me to clear Elfangor.