And there, to one side of me, were four human bodies spread out in the same way--weird cross sections. I saw Prince Jake's face, but also his beating heart and the muscle tissues of his legs and the inside of his brain. The same with the others.

They were all writhing in agony.

And there was one bird, very still.

Prince Jake! Tobias!"; I cried.

But of course they couldn't answer. There was no air to carry their mouth-sounds. There was nothing, not even the few stray atoms and molecules that float free in regular space. There were no stars or planets. Nothing exists in Zero-space.

I happened to catch sight of a silvery, graceful creation, perhaps half a mile away.

A ship! As with the bodies, I saw the inside and outside of the ship all in one picture. I could see distorted individuals inside, going about their duties.

But even mind-numb and gaping at a confused nightmare vision, I knew what sort of creatures they were.

Andalites. It was an Andalite ship!

Its Zero-space engines burned brightly, but it was not moving away.

It hit me in a flash. I knew what had happened. As any Andalite knows, when you morph something much smaller than your own body, the excess mass is extruded into Zero-space.

It hangs there, a wad of randomly arranged matter.

Or at least that was the theory. There was nothing random here. Because we were outside of normal three-dimensional space, I could see the insides of everything and everyone. But the bodies were still definitely human and Andalite bodies.

They were not just random globs.

Once, some time ago, I explained to my human friends about excess mass being pushed into Zero-space. They asked whether some ship traveling through Zero-space might not hit these matter bubbles.

I'd laughed. After all, the odds were ...

Well, obviously it now seemed the odds were pretty good. The Andalite ship had come too close and had pulled us into its magnetic field. It was now dragging us in its wake as it blasted through Z-space.

Aboard the Andalite ship!"; I cried with all the power I could still muster. Andalite ship!

Andalite ship! We're trapped in your wake and dying. Help! Andalite ship, help!"; The energy it took to cry out sapped my remaining strength. There was no air. I could literally see my own lungs collapsing inside me. I could see my hearts frantically beating, trying to keep me alive.

But now the hearts were slowing ... slowing.

Andalite ship! Help! Help!"; I cried. Help ..."; I can't describe the pain of seeing my own fellow Andalites so close. The first Andalites I'd seen in so, so long.

But of course they couldn't see me. Inside the ship they preserved normal three-dimensional space. The Andalites in the ship saw only bulkheads and decks about them.

And then I literally saw, as though I were standing outside myself, the last beats of my heart. I saw the blood flow in my brain slow and stop.

I knew I was going to die. I was going to die within sight of my own people.

Die ...

My consciousness went dark.

And then suddenly, I wasn't dead. I wasn't spread out in multiple dimensions. I was in one piece, alive, and lying on my side on a shaped table that adjusted gently to hold my tail and legs comfortably.

What?"; I said, for no particular reason.

I don't think what is the question,"; an Andalite voice said. I think why and how and especially who are the questions."; I turned my stalk eyes and there, standing beside me, were three Andalite warriors.

I am Aristh Aximili-Esgarrouth- Isthill,"; I said.

Prince Elfangor's little brother?"; one of the Andalites blurted.

all yes. I am Elfangor's brother."; I sighed a little at that. I know it's ridiculous, but as much as I loved and admired Elfangor, it did get annoying always being called "Elfangor's little brother."

They were three Andalite warriors. You could tell they were warriors by the way they carried themselves. By the way they managed to look totally straight and stiff, and yet had just a little bit of a casual slouch in their hind legs.

That, plus the fact that each had a military-issue Shredder weapon and extra power cells slung on a bandolier.

I am Samilin-Corrath-Gahar, captain of this ship,"; the oldest of them said.

My tactical officer Hareli-Frodlin-Sirinial, and our ship's physician, Doctor Coaldwin-Ashul-Tahaylik. Now what in yaolin are you doing drifting around in Zero-space with five aliens?"; Did you save them? Are they safe? The aliens, I mean?"; Doctor Coaldwin answered. all yes, they are quite well. But what unusual physiology!

Four of them are clearly bipedal but lack any sort of tail. They walk on two legs and manage to do so without having a tail for balance.

Quite fascinating. The remaining alien is evidently designed for flight and--"; all yes, thank you, Doctor,"; Captain Samilin interrupted. The question for the aristh is what was he doing in Zero-space in the company of these ... these fascinating aliens."; I climbed to my feet. I felt shaky, but I couldn't just lie there. Captain, I was in morph. In a very small morph. Then I heard a popping sound and suddenly I was in Z-space."; What? You are the extruded mass from a low-mass morph? It's impossible!"; the doctor cried, his eyes bright with excitement.

I mean, it's not impossible, perhaps, but it's never happened. This will annihilate every existing theory of morph mass displacement. This will be a scientific breakthrough of--"; all yes, no doubt,"; the captain interrupted again, sounding more testy. But as fascinating as it is scientifically, I have a bigger question. We know how you came to be floating in Zero-space, Aristh Aximili, but how did these aliens arrive here, since only Andalites possess the morphing power?"; It was a direct question from a superior officer.

A very superior officer. A ship's captain is lord and master of his ship. An aristh is basically something a ship's captain might scrape off his hoof.

Even though the captain's tone was very accusatory, I had this sudden urge to start laughing. It was sheer relief. First, because my friends were well. But also because I was back among Andalites.

They looked like me. They spoke like me. They moved like me. I wanted to laugh and to be sad.

Answer the captain's question!"; the tactical officer roared, speaking up for the first time. As the number two officer, tactical officers are the ship disciplinarians.

Sorry, sir,"; I said. It's just that I haven't seen a fellow Andalite in a very long time. And I thought I might never ... that I might be stuck on Earth for the rest of my life."; The T.o.'s fierce expression softened. But not much.

The captain nodded and said, Just give me your report, Aristh."; But he said it nicely.

all yes, Captain. I have been marooned on Earth for approximately point seven standard Andalite years. I believe I am the only survivor following a battle between the Dome ship where I served and a Yeerk Pool ship. The Pool ship was assisted by a concealed Blade ship belonging to Visser Three."; The T.o. made a sneering, disgusted sound.

The Dome was separated prior to battle and ... I was in the dome. It wasn't by choice.

I was ordered to the dome."; I felt foolish defending my actions. But I didn't want it to look like I was some kind of coward. Anyway, the dome fell from orbit and crashed in one of Earth's oceans. I was down there underwater for several Earth weeks, until the humans came to rescue me."

The same humans who are now in sick bay?"; the doctor asked.

all yes."; They used some human diving craft?"; the T.o. asked.