Liam wants to look away, but he keeps watching. It feels right that there should be witnesses to this. 

When it's over, the first place he looks is at Allison. She was more deeply connected to the Andalite - they didn't even know his name - than any of them. He'll have to say something to her, when they aren't in danger of being discovered and killed. 

Visser Three turns his back on the body of his fallen enemy, and stalks back into his waiting ship.

His Hork-Bajir warriors leave their formation to search the area, one group heading into the Andalite vessel - and trashing it, by the sound - while the rest spread out to search their surroundings. 

It's getting dark, but there's still more than enough light to see. 

That means it's time to go.

Allison looks at each of the others, and gestures for them to run.

Liam is pretty good at running. He's slowed down by his need to pull Rowan along with him, though, and sometimes has to catch her so she doesn't trip.

He keeps an eye on the others as they race for the edge of the construction ground. If anyone else falls, he'll be the first to go and help.

Allison is very good at running. She runs.

Scott seems to be doing fine, though he's a bit slower than the rest. Everyone will make it out.

They make it, just.

The Hork-Bajir Controllers secure the perimeter of the site. The Bug fighter powers up its weapons.

The dead, nameless Andalite and his ship are vaporized, turned into dust on the wind. As the remaining aliens return to their craft and lift off, there remains no trace to show that they were ever there at all.

Allison apologizes to her parents for getting home late. They're waiting up for her, of course. Her father starts to say something, but stops. It's the first time in a long while they've shown concern, but she figures it makes sense. Of course they'd start acting normal when she did something wrong.

She goes upstairs, making excuses about a headache. She can see her mother swallow a response. They look pale and frazzled. She wished they would shown emotion like that about anything else.

She goes to bed.

The Penders are also late home, despite rushing back after leaving the others. 

Liam takes the blame, as always. Their father isn't difficult to convince. Rowan, shivering in a delayed reaction to the events at the construction site, is whisked away to be fussed over by her mother.

"Sorry," Liam says for at least the third time. "It won't happen again, I promise."

"No. It won't."

Aaron Pender levels a glare at his only son. 

"You're grounded," he snarls through gritted teeth. "If you can't be responsible about going out to meet your friends, you won't be going out. Ever."