Bella approaches the Dome. <Hello?> she says, aiming at contained Andalites, whoever they may be.

<Who is there?> demands the thoughtspeech voice from the recording. The recording itself cuts off abruptly.

<A bunch of humans,> says Trouble. He circles the dome, looking for an entrance. <My name's Trouble, what's yours?>

<We're morph-capable humans,> says Bella. <I'm Bella, and besides me and Trouble there's Andi, Charlie, Robin, and Ethan. What's your name?>

<Nice to meet you,> says Trouble. <So is there another door I'm not seeing? Because we don't have infinite air here, and if we try to come in that hatch we are not gonna fit.>

<There is not another door. I can get out if I morph a sea creature. I stunned and acquired one. Is there a safe place to go?>

<The beach was deserted when we left,> Bella says. <Can Andalites swim or do you have a small sea creature that will be able to get close to shore?>

<It is a large sea creature, but I can swim in my own shape if I have to. You are really humans? Will you let me acquire you so I can pass among other humans unnoticed?>

<People will notice if you look exactly like us unless we're very closely coordinated, but we can probably work something out. Come on, we need to go up and breathe soon.>

<There are several of you; I could possibly perform the Frolis maneuver to combine you and not resemble any of you in particular.> Motion is visible in the dome; an Andalite, smaller than Elfangor, all blue-tan, trots toward the hatch.

(Trouble giggles.)

Up go whales. Ax follows, although the shark, obviously, doesn't require air.

Trouble surfaces, breathes, and leads the way back to shore.

Bella checks the moon. It has not yet set, although it's getting close. <We're cutting it close on our morph time. Let's demorph-remorph here - a few at a time in case Ax is tempted to eat us - in case we get distracted on the way back.>

<I wouldn't eat you,> says Ax, sounding offended. His shark swims in lazy circles.

<It's not the kind of thing I'd like to take casual risks with when there's no reason to,> Bella says. She demorphs and remorphs after Trouble.

Ethan and Robin take the next two turns.

Andi goes next.

<You're an estreen,> remarks Ax, sounding impressed.