Muahahaha! I did a cliff hanger! I don't usually do them, but I do like them sometimes... muhuhehehee!

Anyway, hope you enjoy this chapter :)

Chapter 10

I stand for a moment, feeling a slight panic growing in my chest. The transport ship has already detached and I am staring at an airlock with a little window to space.

Suddenly the floor trembles beneath my hooves and I realize what is going on – the ship is detaching it's dome… The ship is preparing for battle. Of course, even dome ships built for pleasure cruises can prepare for battle. All Andalite ships are made battle capable now, by regulation, because of the war.

I take a few deep breaths to calm myself. But in truth I am terrified. I have never been in battle before and even Arisths normally stay in a dome. Wagner did not even stay in the dome this time – he likely went to assist warriors with their fighters. Maybe even to fly in one with a warrior. After all, as Arisths get older, they must have some experience with battle so that they can eventually move on to Warrior status.

I look around, almost feeling guilty of being left on the ship when I shouldn't be there, and half afraid that I may encounter Prince Hiran and that other warrior again. But I remind myself that the Prince is probably in his own fighter now…or on the ship's bridge, giving commands.

I decide I should probably head back to my own quarters.

Instead, however, I head back toward Wagner's Grandmother's quarters…the Captain's quarters. I realize after stepping through into it that Siralin left it unlocked, forgetfully perhaps. Then I realize this is foolish – my being in a Captain's private quarters. It is unlikely he would come in during a battle. But still…

Nervous, I leave the quarters again and head down…toward the fighters in the hangar. At least I could perhaps be of assistance? Then I stop myself. But if Prince Hiran or the warrior was there…

I close my main eyes and take a deep breath. I feel so foolish, so lost. I wonder if Siralin is panicking or ordering those flying the transport ship to come back to me. But I know that such would be a foolish mistake…and I realize I do not want them to do so, for they could forfeit their own lives. Besides that, I was in no immediate danger and did not need to be rescued.

Then I begin to think of the blade ship out in space. I wonder which Visser's it is. I wonder…if perhaps they will hit the dome ship…destroy it…

I tremble for a moment, allowing the fear to take hold. Then I wonder what to do. Head to my quarters, tremble, and wait to die? No. I tell myself to be brave…and I head to the hangar.

I hurry up and take the anti gravity tunnel all the way down to the hanger. It is the lowest floor on the ship, opposite of the dome and the quarters of travel guests, Princes, and the Captain. Toward the hanger are warrior's and aristh's quarters and the storage rooms…including the disposal areas where I typically work. This dome ship, being for travel mostly rather than war, is exceptionally large for a dome ship.

It is strange to make my way to the hangar while the halls are so desolate. I have never even been to the hangar before, except once to deliver something to a warrior, from Prince Annuk. I remember how a warrior with a very serious face asked me in a clipped tone what my business was. The hangar is very carefully guarded normally.

I hear sounds and feel slightly comforted for a moment…but then I feel nervous. The door to the hangar is open and there is no guard there. I peek in with my eyestalk to see two warriors at a fighter closest to the door. They are talking and one is bending over, trying to fix something on his fighter. I smile a little, amused, and feel sort of bad for the warrior whose fighter it is. After all, he would probably much rather be in space – fighting the Yeerks. Not stuck on the dome ship, taking care of his fighter.

Well hello, I realize with embarrassment that the warrior standing and watching his friend work on the fighter has seen my eyestalk spying. Who do we have here?

I slowly step forward, blinking rapidly. His eyes widen.

What in yaolin happened to you, little fellow? he says. Are you alright?

Who are you – oh, the other Warrior says, looking up from his fighter. He glares at me, then goes back to work. Just that vecol child, he says.

Firmil! the first warrior hisses then turns to me. Did you get separated from the other tourists? He probably thinks I am someone's child.

No sir. I work aboard the dome ship. I am the ward of the Captain. I step forward into the hangar. My name is Feninu. I am wondering if I may be of assistance.

The warrior named Firmil, still bent over his fighter, snorts and his friend lightly kicks him. The one who kicked him, standing straight up, smiles at me.

Ah! My name is Warrior Trentin-Veral-Simir. he says. And I remember now – I have heard of you before, from Warrior Annuk. You work in disposal, don't you? he smiles and I bow my eyestalks in assent momentarily. I think you could definitely be of assistance if you've got a set of capable hands, which it looks like you do. I wonder momentarily if he is subtly insulting me by saying that - I am so used to veiled insults. But he seems genuine. He waves me over with a hand and I come closer. Warrior Firmil here is having some problems with one of his landing supports.

I come closer to the fighter and Warrior Firmil who looks curiously at me with an eyestalk. I stand beside him, then crouch on my hooves, scooting up under the fighter to peer at the landing support he is trying to whack back into place impatiently with his tail blade. I can see that it is completely out of its socket and refuses to join back into the fighter. Unless he can connect it, he will not be able to take off, and then land safely back into the dome ship.

I decide the battle outside must be going in our favor, since there are other, older fighters nearby that these two warriors do not take. I reach up my hands toward the landing support.

With permission sir? I say to Warrior Firmil who waves his eyestalks.

As you will, he says, stepping back, his tail settling beside him. He watches me with curiosity. I can tell he and Warrior Trentin are talking about me. But I do not worry myself with their words, because Warrior Trentin seems friendly enough.

There seems to be something stuck in the joint of the landing socket, I say, peeking into the socket with an eyestalk. Then, I reach in with a hand and pull at a small piece of metal. I tug at it, partly using my curved tail blade to remove it. It finally pops free with a CLANG and I set it on the floor momentarily. Then I take the support in my hands, and using my tail, push it back into place. It slides in easily and the fighter tilts back into its proper landing position. Picking up the little piece of metal, I scoot back out of my place, stand, and turn to face the warriors.

See, I held out the metal. This piece of metal was blocking the landing support from going back into its proper place-

Excellent! Warrior Trentin's smile deepens. An eyestalk looks to Warrior Firmil and it seems he is saying something to him. Firmil smiles a little then meets my main eyes with his.

Thank you…Feninu, he says. That was most helpful of you. he takes the piece of metal from my hands, looking it over.

Much better than wacking at it with your tail, hm Firmil? Trentin's stalk eyes smile at his comrade and Firmil narrows his eyes, but I can tell it is good natured.

Yes. Much better, Firmil agrees.

I am glad I could be of assistance, I say.

Feninu! a voice calls and I turn my eye stalks to see Wagner behind me. He is standing near another pair of warriors, working on a fighter. As I watch, Wagner moves out of the way of the fighter, as one of the warriors gives the signal and the pilot inside begins to boot the fighter up, for take-off. The hatch in front of all of the fighters opens and I can see the blue force field keeping the oxygen in the room. It slowly makes its way out into space. I am amazed – I can see fighters far out battling!

Then the hatch closes again and Wagner is trotting up to me, with surprise in his eyes.

My grandmother was just calling to me in thought speech! She was worried about you!

I feel ashamed.

I am sorry. I did not mean to leave her- I am thinking of how he told me to stay with her and take care of her.

Oh do not worry, he eye smiles back. She is fine, as are the other passengers. The battle is almost over now. We are winning, of course, pride flows through him and I almost wave my eyestalk in amusement at the sight of him – all Andalite arrogance.

Of course, I say.

Aristh! the warrior calls to Wagner, giving me a weird look. I look down and away and Wagner tells me:

I must go back to work. I will see you later, in the Dome probably Feninu! he smiles at me and turns, heading quickly back to his superior. I turn to see Trentin and Firmil talking. Firmil is in his fighter, about to boot it up. I quickly head over to Trentin, to get out of Firmil's way. Then Firmil fires up his fighter and their conversation ends as he heads out of the again open hatch.

Trentin and I stand watching his friend head out into space.

You see little fellow, he says to me with a sigh. I am on probation from flight, he smiles and I am surprised he would reveal such a detail to me.

Why sir? I blurt, then feel embarrassed. It is none of my business of course. But he smiles more.

I did foolish things with my fighter. That's what happens when you take things for granted in the military. You cannot be fooling around if you are a warrior. You must behave always. He looks wistfully out into space as the hatch closes, then turns and puts a hand on my shoulder. I am surprised that even in battle, a warrior would not be able to fly if he was on probation. My people can have such foolish adherence to regulations, sometimes.

Well then. I am heading up to the bridge. The Captain just summoned me. I think you can return to the Dome now, since we've just attached it back.

I was intrigued. So he was communicating openly with other warriors and the Captain right now? I had heard this was how communication worked during a battle and that warriors updated each other on the situation constantly. I felt oddly jealous then. It seemed to be full of such closeness and comraderie at times, the military. But then I remembered Prince Hiran and realized it was probably not always so brotherly…

And certainly for one like me, it would not be.

Why so sad? he asked me.

I blinked rapidly and forced a smile.

Oh I am fine. Merely tired. I get tired easily. I said, then felt embarrassed for burdening this kind warrior with my infirmity. I will go up to the dome now, sir. Thank you. I say and I mean it. I am grateful to him for letting me be helpful.

As you will, he smiles and bobs his eyestalks. I smile back at him, then turn and head from the hanger. I notice his stalk eyes follow me all the way out of the hanger. Perhaps he was merely acting as a security officer on the hanger and just making sure I did not get hurt or cause trouble? This is what I think must have been the reason he allowed me to help as I leave the hanger.

Later on in the Dome, I am approached by Wagner. The Dome has slowly been filling with some warriors here and there. But I see no sign of the former passengers. Apparently the military has fully taken over the ship. I feel slightly relieved that I will not see Dji again, although I feel sadness as well. I am musing on her and our interactions when Wagner approaches.

That was very great of you, he smiles. Those sorts of things are normally my responsibility.

I smile a little. I am sorry if I took your responsibilities then. He waves a hand.

Think nothing of it. I am glad you could help us then. If it had really been a serious emergency, then I would have been rushing between those warriors, trying to assist them all.

Thank you, I say. I was glad I could help.

Wagner smiles. I notice he is feeding. His fur is a little dirty.

My grandmother is back in her quarters, he says. She was very, very upset with those warriors for just closing the hatch before everyone was evacuated! She was on the Captain's tail about writing a discipline slip up for them! he chuckles. I smile and feel bad for the warriors.

I hope not, I say. They were just trying to protect the passengers, after all.

Well they did panic, he said, looking proud again. And warriors must never panic! Especially in such a situation, when civilians rely on them for security!

I smile at his pride and feel like waving my eyestalk again. Then I remember Warrior Annuk and feel worried. With a sweep of my eyestalk I realize he is not here in the dome.

I hope…no one was harmed - in the battle, I mean? I ask.

A few were injured. He smiles proudly. But no Andalites were killed! Though a fighter was destroyed. But the pilot made it out safely – rescued by a friend of his actually! And he took out a bug fighter before he was rescued! he laughs. Our people truly are great Feninu. I wish you could experience battles too! They let me in on the communication! It was amazing – thought speech back and forth! They kept asking us what was going on aboard the ship and reporting back and forth to each other! I thought my head would spin from all the information!

I just smile as Wagner rambles on. I feel a bit jealous… But mostly I feel warm inside. Wagner, my new friend, is telling me about his most exciting experience yet. I could not care much less for details on the battle, but as he goes on, I am happy just to listen as my friend talks to me.

Then he stops, his eyes wide. His torso straightens up.

What is it? I ask.

I…I've just been summoned to the bridge! he blinks a few times, looking stunned.

Then I actually listen, my main eyes widening.

Attention! Aristh Wagner-Arrepoth-Ishinal and Feninu-Elorin-Maheen – report immediately to the bridge!

They are calling you as well! Wagner cried.

Why would they call me?

I have no idea...But we'd better get moving!

With that, we both hurry off, myself following in Wagner's wake.

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