The car is a shock. Whatever this guy is - and he's not an Andalite, that's obvious enough from how he went from a wolf shape to a human with no transition - he's something she's never seen before, something none of them have ever seen before.

If he's a human with the ability to morph and he's not fighting this war, then he's sure going to explain himself.

To Rachel herself, if necessary.

The parking permit catches her attention right after the car. Car like that, an engine roar, the way he tears out - if she were capable of rolling her eyes, she'd be doing it. But he's headed to, or will be heading to, the university. That's easy enough to follow.

It's reconnaissance, that's all. She'll tell Jake about it later.