Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Geo-Moon Chronicles ❯ Crime and Punishment ( Chapter 2 )

"What in the blazes is going on in here?!?!?" Serenity asked. Everyone stood at attention.

"Sorry, your highness." Jonathon replied. "I was just testing my son. He offered to relieve Sailor Mercury of her duties so that she could get some rest, in return for her watch care over him through the night. I was simply testing his ability to perform the task he requested."

"And?" She asked.

"He passed with flying colors." He said.

"Well, then I think an apology is in order." she said.

"I'm sorry, your highness, I overstepped my bounds." I said instantly.

"Not you, James, if you were successful in deflecting an attempt, even if simulated, at my daughter's life, you're to be rewarded. I was referring to the Admiral, for deeming it necessary to wake everyone in the process."

"That was my fault as well, your majesty." I replied. "He went at her with a knife, I moved to kick it out of his hand, my kick was successful but I over shot and knocked out the window." I said.

"Well then, apology accepted, James. When it's a more decent hour, I'll need to see you on board my ship."

"James?" Sailor Venus asked. "Who gave you permission to do that?"

"I did." Amy said standing up. "As the ranking officer at the time, I gave the okay."

"Good call." Sailor Venus replied. "Well we're all up now anyways, and after that scare I know I can't sleep. Sailor Mercury, take five, any other takers on staying up?" Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Mars both nodded. "Good, because with that window broken out, we need another guard on duty."

"I'm sorry." I replied. "I guess I just got cocky." I said. Sailor Venus looked at me.

"Are you serious?" She asked. "You saved the Princess's life, James. There's no need to apologize for that." She said. "Mars, you take the outside watch. Jupiter and I will stand guard in here." Sailor Mars saluted and walked out.

"In position." she said quietly when she had reached the window.

"James, let's step outside for a minute." Jonathon said.

"Okay, dad." I replied. We stepped outside and he immediately kicked me off the porch sending me sprawling all over the ground. I quickly climbed back to my feet.

"Did I tell you to get back up?" He asked. I shook my head slowly. "Then stay down!" He backhanded me across the face sending me sprawling yet again. He then stepped around in front of me and grabbed a handful of my hair lifting my face off the ground. I was crying. "Why are you crying, James? Why are you crying?"

"Because I don't know what I did, sir." I replied. He smiled and cocked his head to the side, chuckling.

"You don't know what you did?" He suddenly became straight faced and backhanded me again. "You disgraced me in front of the queen, that's what you did." He snarled in a low tone.

"I-I-I'm sorry, dad, I didn't mean to." I replied through my tears. I wasn't crying about the pain, so much as I was because it was my dad issuing the beating.

"Oh shut up, on your feet." He commanded yanking my hair. I stood up and he backed away from me. "Come on, James, give me your best shot." He said gaining a stance. I wiped my nose and shook my head.

"I don't wanna fight you, dad."

"Don't wanna fight me?" He said. "Oh, that's convenient, you wanted to in there!" He pointed furiously at the house.

"No, I didn't, but you made me." I replied.

"Really, and how did I make you?"

"You attacked Serena." I replied. He ran up and punched me across the face again knocking me backwards and busting several teeth out. I bounced and looked over my shoulder at the guards by the ship. The one with a broken nose was laughing.

"You will address her as Princess, am I perfectly clear?" He asked. I was crying so hard that I couldn't answer him. I climbed back up to my hands and knees, sobbing even harder. For several more minutes, he kept kicking, punching, and throwing me around. For the longest time, I didn't understand why, and it hurt. Not physically, but it hurt my heart that my own father was doing this to me. After he was finished and stormed off to run his ten miles for the morning, The four scouts and the princess walked outside and saw me laying on the ground, still sobbing uncontrollably.

"Help him!" Serena yelled at the two guards by the ship. They simply saluted in reply. "Oh you two are in big trouble when my mother wakes up." The five girls ran over and tried helping me back to my feet but I shook them off.

"Just leave me alone, please just leave me alone." I said through sobs. They backed away and I crawled over to a tree and started lifting myself back up to my feet.

"What's the matter, punk, too proud to let the princess help you?" One of the guards asked, mockingly.

"Who told you to speak?" Serena yelled at him. "I outrank the Admiral, you two, need I remind you?" she shouted. Suddenly the door busted open again and Serenity walked out.

"What in the blazes...oh my goodness, James!" she gasped running over to me. I held up a hand motioning for her to stop.

"Please, your majesty, just leave me alone." I was still shaking in the effort to stay on my feet. "Just please leave me alone."

"Okay, James, I'll leave you to yourself." She replied backing away. "but when you want to talk, feel free to talk to me."

"Thank you, your majesty, but that won't be necessary." I replied again. that's when Grandfather walked out and helped me back into the house.

"What happened to him?" Serenity asked.

"We were having a friendly bout and I just got the better of him." Jonathon said running back up. Serenity looked at him strangely. "Ask any of them, Serenity." She looked around, and everyone nodded except Amy who was staring viciously at Jonathon.

"Amy?" Serenity asked. Jonathon narrowed his eyes slightly, and she finally nodded.

"Yes, your majesty, that's what happened." She said finally.

"Well okay then, but Jonathon in the future, do be careful, that's one of the most hopeful soldiers I've ever seen before."

"Will do, your highness, and now, if you'll excuse me, I have three more laps to run."

"Carry on, Admiral." She replied walking back into her transport ship.

"Okay, what just happened here?" Lita asked. looking around.

"You just lied to protect your commanding officer." One of the guards at the ship said. "It's a common practice. Plausible deniability, if the Queen doesn't know about it, she doesn't have to lie about it." The other one said.

"You two are scum." Serena said finally. they went back into the house where I was still being held by my grandpa, crying.

"I just don't understand..." I said. "I only did what he told me to."

"It's okay, James, you did nothing wrong." Jebidiah said. He looked at the girls. "Was the Queen informed?" He asked. They lowered their gazes. "Did she ask?" they nodded. I popped my head up and looked at them.

"Y-you lied?" I asked.

"James..." Amy started.

"Thank you." I said. They looked confused. My face was swollen and bruised.

"James, why don't you just heal yourself?" Serena asked.

"I-I can't." I replied.

"Why not?"

"I tried, but it doesn't work." I said. A few hours later, I was standing in the front yard at attention, with the Queen, her daughter, and the four scouts in front of me. My face was still incredibly swollen and painful. But I didn't dare try to disgrace my father again, so I ignored the pain. Serenity smiled.

"Stand at Rest, James." She said finally. I relaxed slightly. "It takes a lot of courage to be able to defend someone when their life is at stake. It takes a lot more courage to do so, when the attacking person is your father. So, in recognition of your courage, and selflessness, I present you with this." she held out a magnificent sword, shined to perfection. "Kneel, James Geo." My father's face fell when she said it. She touched each shoulder with the blade once, and then my right shoulder a second time before pulling the blade away and flipping it over in her arms, holding the handle out to me. "And rise, Sir James Geo, and claim the weapon that marks your knight hood!" She said. I stood upright and accepted the blade, performing the traditional armed salute and going back to attention. "Break Formation, Sir Geo, and tell me what you think." She said. I looked at the blade and shook my head.

"Your Majesty..."

"You're a member of the royal court now, James, call me Serenity."

"Okay, Serenity, I really don't think that I deserve this." I said shaking my head. "I mean, I'm hoping to join the MDT soon, I was just doing what would be considered my job if I were in now." I said admiring the blade. "I just, I really don't know what to say, thank you, your.... Serenity." I corrected myself before saluting again. She returned the gesture and smiled. Then two guards walked up laying a metal trunk in front of me.

"Your new uniforms." she said. "Now that you're a knight, you'll be expected to be in the uniform of a knight whenever you know I'm going to be here."

"Not a problem, Serenity." I replied.

"Good then, we're not leaving until sunset, so you'd better go get changed." I picked up the trunk and carried it into the house, I jumped in the shower first and then changed into the uniform. It was a lot like my father's only where his had silver trimmings, mine had gold. And the boots were spit shined leather rather than suede. I quickly finished the trimmings with the black beret that was also enclosed, then realized I was inside, so I took it back off and folded it in half sticking one end in my belt. When I walked back out, the room burst into applause. I felt like laughing out loud, that is until I saw the look of pure scorn on my father's face. Then I wanted to crawl into a hole and die.

A few hours later, Serenity and the girls were preparing to leave. Jacob was already in his cadet's uniform, ready to go. Grandpa pulled dad outside.

"I want you on that ship, Jonathon." He said seriously. "Just leave."

"Why?" Jonathon asked.

"Because James cannot be trained properly with you beating the hell out of him whenever you embarrass yourself." Grandpa replied.

"What?"

"You get on that ship, or I will tell Serenity what happened." He said. Jonathon looked at him seriously.

"Fine, pops, I'll go back to HQ. But we'll be back for James's trial in three years. He'd better be ready."

"In three years time, Jonathon, he'll be the one whipping your ass." Grandpa replied. "I've already had your things packed, they're waiting by the door." He looked over at the door and saw me standing there looking at him.

"Okay then, I'm gone." He said finally. He brushed right past me on his way in.

"Dad, can I ask you something?" I said as he started to pick up his bags.

"What is it, James." He said gruffly.

"Dad," I paused to control my emotions, "do you hate me?" I asked. He looked at me, stopping for a moment.

"No, James, I don't hate you." He replied. My face softened slightly. "That would require having feelings for you, period." He said before he walked out the door. I was crushed by the comment, and in no time at all, tears began running down my face again.

"I love you, dad." I shouted after him. He ignored the statement and kept walking, disappearing into the ship a few moments before it lifted off and shot into the sky. Grandpa walked up to me at that point. I was still staring after the ship. "I must be pretty bad, Grandpa." I said, forcing my voice to maintain a steady tone. "My own father, doesn't feel anything for me." I said, choking back the tears.

"James, honey, come here." My mother said. "There's something we need to talk about." Her and Grandpa sat me down and told me the story of how I was found on that hunting trip. Then my mother went further and told me how I got there.

"So...who is my dad?" I asked finally. She glanced up at Jebidiah briefly. Then turned back to me.

"A man named Vincent Felinine, James. He's a bad man, he tried to attack the queen, and was exiled to Earth."

"From the ashes of darkness comes the light, a boy will be born and that man will fight." Jebidiah said, nodding. "James, do you know what a prophecy is?" He asked.

"Kinda." I replied. "It's something that tells the future." I said. He nodded.

"Absolutely correct, and there's a prophecy that tells about you being here too."

"What does it say?" I asked.

"All kinds of things, it says who all you'll kill, who you're going to marry, how many kids you'll have...."

"Amy..." I said, very plainly. "I'm going to marry Amy."

"Really," he replied, "and what about your father's laws?"

"I don't care." I replied. "He has no feelings, remember, so what does he care?"

"James, things aren't that simple. If there's a law in place, and you break it, you'll be put in prison." He said. I shot to my feet.

"Put in prison for being in love?" I asked. "I'll kill anyone who tries." I replied sitting back down.

"You'll eventually be overpowered."

"I don't care, at least I'll go down fighting for my beliefs, I'll go down fighting with honor, like you taught me. And I'll go down long before I'll ever let her go down." I said.

"What if I told you, that I could teach you how to beat Jonathon." Grandpa said.

"Huh? You mean to fight him?"

"No, not here." He said pointing to my arms. "Here." He pointed at my head.

"Can you do that in three years?" I asked. He nodded. I smiled. "Then let's get started."

For the next two years, I did my strength training and martial arts training in the morning before breakfast. Between breakfast and lunch it was book work. Grandpa taught me the laws that I would have to follow, and how to go about getting one changed. He also taught me about the history of the Moon Kingdom and all kinds of things. After lunch, he taught me all about marksmanship and weapons care. Then after the two year mark had ended, he patted me on the back and smiled.

"Congratulations my boy, you're now a fully trained knight." He said.

"But I still have a year, that's a long time for remedial training, isn't there anything else you can teach me?" I asked. He smiled and stared at me.

"Yes, as a matter of fact there is, but learning it will take discipline and hard work." He said. I smiled.

"Good! What's the lesson?"

"Meditation." He replied. "The ability to hone your inner energy and cast yourself into a trance that knows no time." He said. "Your first trance will escalate you to puberty, and you could be in a trance for months, even years, without knowing it, but it will show you how to control your wonderful abilities." I nodded.

"Let's get to it then, I have a date to keep." He sat down with me and showed me the position to sit in. And then began taking me step by step through relaxing my entire body to the point of euphoria, and then beyond. I sat there, and entered my trance on the first attempt. Visions began flashing through my head. Hundreds of them, too fast for me to make out, but somehow I knew what they were. I saw a man, he looked a lot like my dad, only he had long blond hair pulled back into a pony tail, and he wore my uniform. I saw him and a woman with blue hair, it must have been Amy and I together, then suddenly ripped apart and graves with three names on them, one of which was Amy's, appeared. I suddenly snapped out of the trance and began breathing heavily. I looked all around me, the yard hadn't changed, but when I looked down at my sword, which I had laid in front of me, the shining metal was rusted and dull. My uniform and boots had somehow stretched with my body, which was now incredibly buff and toned. I reached back and felt my hair, it fell just past my waist. I slowly climbed to my feet, feeling more refreshed than I had ever felt before. A few minutes after I had come back to the real world, grandpa came out the front door.

"James! You're finally awake! How was it?"

"Pretty good, Grandpa." I replied, my voice had deepened since I went into trance. "I feel better than I ever remember feeling before. How long was I out?"

"Going on three years now." He said. "That must have been one hell of a trance!"

"Three years?" I asked. "But what about the deadline? My trial?"

"We'll call them in the morning, until then, come, tell me what you have learned." We talked all through the night. The next morning, my mother was ecstatic about my success, and Grandpa put in a call to Queen Serenity. One week later, her transport landed in front of our house, along with four fighter jet escorts. My father climbed out of one and stared maliciously at me. I quickly drew my sword and executed a salute. He returned the gesture and I lowered my blade, when the Queen stepped out into the opening of her transport I saluted again.

"Oh my, James? Is that you?"

"That's correct, Serenity." I replied. She returned the salute and I sheathed the sword, stepping forward and helping her down.

"Thank you, James. Well, I am impressed, you've accomplished quite a bit in the time since we last saw you." After she said it, Serena and her four guardians stepped out.

"Hello James." Serena said. "Long time no see."

"Princess." I bowed slightly. After they stepped out, a man dressed in black and silver armor stepped out behind them.

"James, this is Prince Darien, from Earth."

"A pleasure." I bowed. "I've never met anyone from Earth before, so if I say anything that offends you, it's probably not intentional." I said.

"Well, for starters, you might want to address me as Prince Darien when speaking to me." He said solemnly. I recoiled at my lack of foresight.

"Right, Prince Darien, my mistake."

"Indeed." He replied. "Try not to make it again."

"You'll have to forgive my son, Prince Darien, he never has really perfected his manners." Jonathon said chuckling.

"Well then, the situation will have to be remedied"

"I'll get right on it, Sir." Jonathon replied. "James, you mind your manners around these people, they're somewhat important to the kingdom." I smiled slightly and scratched the back of my head.

"Mmm hmm," I said, "excuse my following language Prince Darien, Serenity, Serena, and anyone else who might be offended, but fuck you Jonathon." I said. His smile faded quickly and Serenity and Darien dropped their jaws.

"Is there a problem, James?" Serenity asked.

"Oh not much of one, just a little payback is all." I said shrugging.

"Payback for what?" Serenity asked.

"Oh, you didn't know? On my god, imagine that, Jonathon here didn't tell you that the last time you were here, he beat me like a red headed step child, just because I did what he told me to?" Her face turned into a frown.

"The Guardian issue?" She asked.

"That would be the one." I replied. She turned to Jonathon.

"You lied to me?" She asked. Then she turned to the scouts. "And you too?"

"Oh don't fault them for not telling you, Serenity, in fact I thanked them for not telling you, because the bastard probably would have killed me if they had. But instead, I had time to train, and get stronger, and now I'm not afraid of Jonathon anymore."

"Yes." Amy cheered slightly and Jonathon glared at her.

"Jonathon, what do you have to say for yourself?"

"Your Majesty, the boy was out of line, scaring the princess like he did."

"He didn't scare me, Admiral..."

"Serena, listen..." He started.

"No you listen, Admiral, I am a Princess, you're a military officer, you listen when I speak, not the other way around." She said, everyone looked at her strangely. Including Darien.

"James did not scare me, the man coming at me with a knife did."

"Whoa, you came at her with a knife?" Darien asked. "Isn't that treason? An assault on the crown always counted as treason where I come from."

"I was going to stop." He said. "Like I would really stab the Princess? Come on, what motive would I have for doing that?"

"I don't know, and I don't care, but as a knight of the royal court, I'm placing you under arrest." I said. He turned to Serenity and she looked away.

"There's nothing I can do, Jonathon, you may have intended to stop, but thanks to James, we'll never know. James, do what you must."

"You're gonna have to fight me for it." He replied.

"With pleasure." I nodded. Darien and the scouts stepped behind me.

"We'll back you, Sir Geo." Darien said.

"Get the hell out of here, all of you."

"Excuse me..." Darien started. I quickly turned and drew my sword aiming it at his throat.

"You are not a member of the royal family that I protect, and if I'm not mistaken, we're currently at war with your planet which makes you a spy as far as I'm concerned, now get away from me before I gut you like a pig." I paused. "Prince Darien. I mean you no offense, but this is a family matter, and where I come from, family matters are settled within the family, Serenity is their currently a counsel elder?"

"No, James."

"So be it, trial by fire it is, beat me, to the death or surrender, beat me, Jonathon, and you'll be acquitted right here and now." He drew his sword and gained a stance as well.

"I've been waiting for this."

"Sir! We have multiple incoming bogies!"

"I'm busy!" Jonathon shouted back.

"Sir, we have thirty seconds before they're on us like white on rice!"

"Serenity." I said. "Request permission to postpone this trial until such time when the distraction is eliminated."

"Are you sure it's safe to let him go, James? He's no longer one of us."

"Trust me, it's safe." I replied.

"Okay then, I'll trust your judgment, permission granted."

"Go." I said. "I'll be here when you get back."

"And if I don't come back?"

"Then you'll prove me right when I call you a yellow bellied, two faced, coward." I replied. He snarled, but turned around and jumped into the Moon Cruiser leading the three others into battle. "Okay then, Serenity, I trust your transport is armored?"

"Of course," she replied.

"Everyone on board, that means you too, Prince Darien, don't want your own men plastering you do you?" He smiled and moved to the transport. The Sailor Scouts lined up behind me. "I thought I said everyone on board."

"James, what can we do on board that ship?" Sailor Venus asked.

"Protect your Queen." I replied.

"From who?

"Prince Darien." I replied. "Do none of you find it funny in the least that a Prince from Earth is walking around the Moon Kingdom, and the Earth armada is bombing us?"

"He's been pleading to them that they stop, but they're all following someone else's orders." Mina replied. "We're not really sure what's going on, but we do know that Darien is legit." She followed up.

"Fine then, stop that whole position of attention thing though, it makes me nervous." They broke formation, and we watched the skies as the four moon cruisers continued battling the legion of enemy fighters flawlessly. One of the fighters suddenly launched a duo of missiles at the transport. "It's about damn time." I said quietly extending my hands and firing dual energy blasts that intercepted the missiles. "I was starting to get bored." I looked around and then skyward, a cock-eyed expression on my face. "You know, something doesn't smell right here."

"What do you mean, sir?" Lita asked.

"Well, look at all those fighter jets. How many enemy craft would you say were initially in that flight?"

"About forty, forty-five, sir." Amy replied.

"Forty fighter craft? For a bombing run? Not likely, there's not one bomb loaded on those things, that's a small invasion force." I said. "However, fighters in themselves cannot invade a planet, so..."

"Where are the foot soldiers?" Raye asked looking around. I suddenly caught a really nasty smell on the breeze.

"My god, who needs a shower?" I asked. I then stop and checked myself, smiling when I realized that it wasn't me. "Women don't smell like that." I looked up wind and focused my energy into my eyes. I could vaguely make out ten humanoid distortions in front of me. When I say distortions, I'm talking about bending light, you see when you're cloaked what it is your body becomes almost completely transparent, like glass, however also like glass, your body does this by bending light, and if you're really looking, it's very obvious. I drew my sword and started forward. "You ten right there, drop your cloaking fields and surrender, you're under arrest!" I shouted. They didn't move, I smiled. "You think I'm bluffing you?" I asked. "fine, you're now resisting arrest."

"James, there's no one there!" Mina shouted.

"Bullshit, watch this!" I flung my sword expertly and nailed one of the cloaked figures dead in the shoulder, all ten of them uncloaked and shot their hands in the air. They were ours.

"Vice Admiral Lovette?!?!? What are all of you doing here?!?!?" I asked. "I could have killed you!!!!!"

"Yes, you made that very obvious when you nailed Dimitri through his shoulder, good throw, how did you find us?" He asked.

"Dimitri seriously needs a shower." I replied. I walked over and grabbed the sword's handle with one hand and placed the other hand directly over his wound. The Scouts ran up behind me. "Hey Amy, I hope you have more aspirin handy, I'm probably gonna need them." I ripped the sword out and channeled my power into the palm of my hand again. It burned, just like last time, but nowhere near as badly. When it was finished I stood up and staggered backwards. Not one feeling of nausea had hit me.

"Congratulations James, welcome to the MDT."

"Wait a minute, why are you wearing Admiral's ranks?" I asked.

"Because one of the four fighters that we have up there was a leak, and I'll give you six guesses as to who it was."

"Jonathon?" I asked.

"You're not calling him father?"

"No, because he's not, I'm adopted."

"Consider yourself lucky." He replied. "Regardless of the outcome of this battle, he's to be executed upon his return to the ground."

"Executed? That won't be necessary, sir, I can handle him myself."

"So I see." He replied. "That was a nice shot, taking out those missiles, consider yourself recommended for a level one commendation, Commander." He replied. He held out his hands and Dimitri handed him a set of ranks. They were pinned on my shoulders promptly. "Sorry about the informalities, but this really isn't the setting for a proper induction."

"It's perfectly fine, sir." I replied. "How did they find out about the Queen's trip?" I asked looking skyward.

"The mole informed them." He replied. "We're not sure exactly what he was hoping to accomplish by acting as an informant, but Sid Steffano, our head at Counter-Intelligence, intercepted the call." I nodded.

"Probably another one of his damned tests." I replied, shaking my head.

"He's done things like this before?"

"Oh yeah." Mina answered his question. "He attacked the Princess on his last visit here, trying to prove that James was incapable of acting as a guardian, he failed miserably."

"I see, so you want to be RPU?" He asked.

"Preferably, sir. I've seen the Queen's elite royal guard, and they're a joke."

"Well then, I'll arrange for your transfer to the Royal Protection Unit Headquarters as soon as we arrive at the kingdom, Commander. You say that they are a joke?"

"Yes, sir, their fighting abilities aren't even second rate, judging from the ones that I saw, they're all cocky, loud, undisciplined, and in need of a proper spanking." I said. Admiral Lovette started laughing.

"You have such a way with words, Commander."

"Thank you sir." I replied.

"Well, we can't have the elite royal guard slacking so drastically, now can we?"

"It wouldn't be advisable, sir."

"Okay, here's what I want you to do, Commander, I want you to take every single one of them, and re-train them. I'll give you one year to complete the re-training and then I'll perform an inspection of RPU head to toe, if I'm pleased with the results, you'll stay in charge of the unit. However, if I'm not, you'll be reassigned to a fighter wing, understood?"

"Yes sir, and I can promise you this much, if you're as much of a military man as I'm reading you as being, you won't be disappointed." We continued watching the battle, three of the four cruisers were destroyed and Jonathon had taken out all but three of the enemy fighters, which were convened on his tail. After several attempts to shake them off, he found it futile and started racing laps around the property. "Grrrrr, he's not going to be able to take them out like that." I stepped forward a few steps and raised my hand channeling my energy to the palm. A glowing ball of fire began forming at the palm of my hand and I was staring straight ahead. "Hold it..." I said quietly, then I fired just before they were passing the point where I was aiming. The energy ball shot forward into one of the enemy fighters and Jonathon shot skyward and whipped around slamming his fighter craft into the ground directly between the other two fighters causing them to spin out of control and slam into the ground about a mile away. I was still staring at the wreckage of Jonathon's cruiser with distaste.

"Good shot, Commander!" Admiral Lovette shouted up to me. The sound of cheers coming from all of them finally reached my ears. It didn't help, I was still infuriated.

"Grrrrr....YOU BASTARD!!!!!!!" I shouted. "YOU FUCKING DISHONORABLE COWARD!!!!!! YOU CHEATED ME!!!!!!!" I raised my hand again and launched a continuous string of fireballs at the wreckage, completely annihilating any evidence that anything had ever landed there. I then ran up to the crater and found only one piece of evidence left, my father's impereite sword. I stepped down and picked up the blade, staring at the golden gem on the hilt again. "I think I'll keep this around." I said. "Maybe it will actually serve the queen, as it should have done in the first place. Rest in pieces." I saluted with the blade before walking away, swinging it back and forth getting a feel for it.

"Well, so much for verifying death." Admiral Lovette said. "He's deader than dead." He handed me a cigarette. "I think you've earned at least this much." I quickly summoned another ball of energy to my palm, using it to light the cigarette then aiming at the crater and firing it.

"And one for good measure." I said as it impacted. "Thank you, sir. Permission to be dismissed?"

"Granted." He replied. I walked past everyone else, heading straight into my bedroom and slamming the door shut. "What's eating him?" Admiral Lovette asked. After no one said anything, he shrugged and turned to the scouts. "Sailor Mercury, what's your take?"

"Sir, Jonathon had assaulted him viciously before he returned to the palace after Lieutenant Commander Jacob Geo's trial. It's possible that Commander James wanted revenge, sir." She said.

"Hmmm, can't say I blame him, I'd want it to, why don't you go console him. I have an errand to run with my staff, we'll be back within two days."

"So I'm assuming you'd like us to remain here until you return?" Serenity asked stepping out of the transport. Admiral Lovette turned and saluted.

"If it's not too much to ask, Your Majesty." He replied.

"I think Serena and the Scouts have earned a little reprieve from palace life." she replied. "If you're returning to the palace, would you be so kind as to alert the counsel to my extended leave of absence?"

"Absolutely, Your Highness." He replied. "Permission to be dismissed?"

"Granted." She replied. "Well then, girls, what do you say? Cut loose for a few days?"

"Thank you, Serenity." Mina replied, saluting.

"Not a problem, and for the duration of our stay, no one is to use formalities, unless ordered otherwise."

"Well, at least it's quiet now." Darien said stepping back out. "It is a pretty secluded location, I suppose that I'm in charge of the Princess's protection."

"Well Darien as a matter of fact..."

"I am." I replied staring at him from the doorway of my house.

"You?" He asked. "But you're young, inexperienced, impulsive, and..."

"The best chance that Serena has at survival." I replied. "Unless of course you have powers that outmatch mine." I said. He stopped for a moment and stared back at me.

"Why are you so intent on taking this responsibility?"

"For several reasons, Darien, first and foremost being that immediately upon our return to the palace, I will be given charge of the RPU so technically it's my duty. Secondly, you are an Earth Prince, and I don't give a rats ass who says you're legit, until I see something that convinces me, you're still a potential spy, and I'm not about to let a potential spy take charge of safeguarding a vital member of my government, thirdly, I just don't like you." I said. "Something about you just sets sirens off in my head, and you can bet that I'll be watching your every move, and if you give me just cause, I will not hesitate to kill you, am I clear?"

"Commander, I think you're overstepping..."

"Am I clear?" I shot back, my eyes burning a hole through his.

"Yes, you're perfectly clear." He replied.

"Good, now that we've gotten the warnings and such out of the way, mi casa es su casa, make yourselves at home, and enjoy your stay."

"James, may I speak with you for a moment?" Serena asked. I walked over to where she was standing. She whispered something to Darien and he walked off.

"Yes, Serena?" I asked. She looked at me pleadingly.

"James, please, don't make things so tough for Darien, I love him, and he loves me. That's why he's here, not because he's a spy."

"Serena, look at things from my stand point, will you?" I asked. "I have no idea what brought you to him and vice versa, and believe me, if he is legit, it will show, and I'll have no reason to do anything. It just seems a bit odd to me that we're fighting a war with Earth and a Prince from Earth is openly accepted into our society with little to no questioning."

"It's because of us." Serena said looking at me. I saw a tear forming in her eyes. "This war is because of Darien and myself, James."

"What?"

"The king was killed a few years ago, and some guy named Vincent Felinine took his place, he hates the Moon Kingdom with a passion..." My eyes widened and I took a step backwards. "Are you okay?"

"M-m-my father?!?!? He's the one behind these attacks?!?!?"

"Your Father? James, what are you talking about?"

"Jonathon was not my birth father, I learned after he took Jacob to the palace that he had been away on a RECON mission of some sort when I was conceived. His best friend and co-pilot was irritated that he had not been chosen to join him, and came here to deliver a notice of resignation to my mother. However, they started talking, one thing lead to another and next thing you know nine months later she's in the woods giving birth to me so that she can hide the evidence from Jonathon. His co-pilot's name was Vincent Felinine, and he was exiled to Earth thirteen years ago." I said. Serena's eyes got wider suddenly.

"Oh no, you're not like him are you?" She asked.

"No, I'm nothing like him, I had hoped to meet him though, but now that he's a criminal of war, it'll be a shoot on sight order." I shrugged. "I guess I'm better off not knowing anything about him." I said. "He'll be dead soon anyway."

"Are you okay? James, you know you can talk to us, right?" She asked.

"Yeah, Serena, I'll be fine, just a little shocked is all. I mean, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. If I were cast into exile I know I'd want some payback, but starting a war? That seems a little too extreme to me. I'd want to be here myself not sending soldiers to do it."

"Well, let's hope that it never comes to that with you." Serena said smiling. "We'd all be dead if that happened." I smiled and turned to her.

"No, you wouldn't." I replied. "As the Commander of RPU, I'll have to take an oath to defend the royal crown with life. Serena, I give you my personal guarantee right here and now, that I will do just that." She smiled slightly

"James, are you hitting on me?" She asked. I smiled and shook my head.

"No, Serena, just letting you know that you have nothing to be afraid of." I said. "I won't let anything happen to you, or your mother."

"Okay, thank you."

"No problem, now then. Is there anything else you wanted?" I asked. She looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Yes actually, there is. I noticed last time we were here that you and Amy had sparks flying, is there anything there?" She asked