Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Geo-Moon Chronicles ❯ Taking Charge ( Chapter 3 )

"You know, I'm not really sure, maybe you should ask her." I replied.

"I already did, she likes you."

"Whoa, wait a minute, likes me? What do you mean?"

"I mean she likes you, she thinks your good looking, well mannered, and very well educated." Serena said.

"So what?" I asked. "You're not helping me Serena, is it an infatuation, admiration, love, what is it?" Serena smiled at me.

"You know, I'm really not sure, maybe you should ask her." She said. I sighed.

"I deserved that."

"Yup." she replied. "You tell me and I'll tell you."

"Fine." I said. "She's beautiful, intelligent, strongly dedicated to her duties, and yet even though she's seen things like today's events, there's something about her that seems pure, innocent, untouched by reality's cruelty. I can't help but falling in love with that." I said, glancing over at her. When I looked back at Serena she was crying quietly.

"That was so sweet." She said.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm not really big on the mushy, sappy love scenes." I replied.

"Oh hush!" Serena shot back.

"Okay, I told you, it's your turn."

"I really don't know." She replied. "Amy keeps to herself about her feelings, she really doesn't open up to us that often."

"What?!?!?" I asked. "You...oh man...I walked straight into that one..."

"Hey, cheer up, you give her that speech you just gave me, and you're a shoe in." She said. "It almost made me fall for you, and I'm spoken for."

"Yes, she is." Darien said appearing behind her. I jumped back quickly.

"What the..."

"It's called shadow walking, James, an ability I've had since birth."

"Well then, Darien, it seems that maybe you are capable of handling her defense, add to that the fact that I have an issue to resolve, so I'll leave you to it."

"It's appreciated, war dog." He replied smiling. I walked up to the others, Mina turned to me and smiled.

"James, are you okay? You seemed pretty upset for a while there."

"Yeah, I'm fine, thanks." I replied.

"Well, sir," Amy said putting emphasis on the word sir, "if there's anything we can do, just let us know."

"Well for starters stop calling me sir." I replied. "I hate titles, they make me nervous."

"Okay, is there anything else?"

"Um, no, not really." I said, my mind was racing with various thoughts. "I'm gonna go inside now, see ya'll later." I turned and walked off, stopping for a second and willing myself to ask Amy about her feelings, but after several seconds passed and I still couldn't say anything I continued into the house going into my room and plopping down on the bed. A few minutes later, someone knocked on my door. "It's open." I replied. Amy walked in, with a curious look on her face.

"James, is something wrong, you seem kind of distant."

"Well, Amy, I have something I wanted to talk to you about, but...well...close the door please." I said finally, sitting up. She closed the door. "Make yourself at home, have a seat." I said. She sat down by my desk.

"Did I do something wrong?" She asked finally.

"No, Amy, it's nothing like that, not even work related." I said. "I was wondering how..."I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. "I was wondering how you feel about me."

"Oh." she said. "That's what this is all about."

"Yeah, I was talking to Serena and she mentioned that you said something about liking me, when I asked for a definition though, she said she didn't know."

"Well..." She started. "James, I do like you, quite a bit, but I really don't know how to define it either." she said. I was shaking nervously by this point.

"Well, I have pretty good fix on my feelings." I said. "And, uh, I was kind of hoping that, if your schedule could fit it in, that is, um, if we could maybe I don't know, go out sometime when we get to the palace."

"What about that law?" She asked, "you're not going to just break it, are you?"

"No, however, if I know for sure that you'd be willing, I could get it changed."

"Why do I have to be willing?"

"Because, I don't want to engage in a battle if it's a futile effort." I said. She nodded.

"So you have feelings for me?" She asked.

"Putting it lightly, yes." I replied.

"Put it in your words, James." She said.

"Okay, forgive me, if I come across as stupid." I said. "I'm not exactly well versed in this sort of thing...um, here goes. I have mastered the art of Crystalis, and part of earning your mastery of that art, is displaying self control to the point of being able to keep yourself from doing anything, regardless of how tempting it may or may not be."

"Example?" she asked.

"Okay, here's a good one." I replied. "It is incredibly tempting, right now, for me to just get up and hold you, and just never let go." I said. "And that's the point I'm heading towards, I've mastered the art of dodging temptation, but I'm barely able to restrain myself right now. My heart is pounding to the point where it feels like it's going to explode. My lungs feel like a moon cruiser just parked on my chest. I'm breaking into a cold sweat, and I'm shaking like a ten year smoker in an act of prohibition." I said. "So, I have to know, am I wasting my time telling you this, or is there any semblance of a chance that you feel even remotely the same?"

"James, I don't know what to say. I've never had anyone confess anything like this to me before. I mean, I don't know, is it the right thing to do?"

"Follow your instincts, Amy, your first answer is always the correct one."

"Then yes, I do." She replied. "But there are so many complications here. What about Serena's protection? What about that law? I mean, can we really afford to pursue this?"

"It's a rush isn't it?" I asked smiling. She nodded.

"Yes it is, and I'm not sure how I feel about that."

"Do you trust me?" I asked her quietly.

"What? What is that supposed to mean?"

"Do you trust me?" I asked. again.

"Yes, James, I do." She replied. I stood up.

"Then come here, I want to try something out, just for experimental purposes." She stepped closer to me. "Come on, Amy, I'm not going to bite you." I said. She walked up until she was a fraction of an inch away from me. I wrapped my arms around her waste line and raised one to her back, pulling her into a kiss. She resisted at first, but then stopped and gave in, kissing me back. when we pulled away, she looked up at me, the expression on her face was unreadable. "Do you feel better now?" I asked. She nodded slowly.

"Except that, now we're both criminals." She replied. I smiled and held a finger up to my lips and looking around.

"Shhhh, do you hear that?" I asked.

"No, what is it?"

"The sound of nobody knowing." I replied. "I'll get that law changed, Amy, you have my word on that. Until then, I'll talk to the Queen and see if I can't get a temporary wave of immunity, just until I can speak to the Admiral."

"So this is really going to happen?" She asked. I smiled as I slammed Jonathon's sword into the sheath on my hip.

"You had better believe it."

"Oh, and James, you'd better wipe the lipstick off your mouth." She said. I grabbed a washcloth and scrubbed at it furiously.

"Better?" I asked. She nodded. "Well then, let's go and see the Queen." I said before opening the door and motioning towards it. "After you." She smiled and walked out in front of me. I closed the door behind us and we walked up to the transport.

"I'll be damned." Darien said watching us from his position next to Serena and the others. "That was fast."

"He probably gave her the same spill he told me." Serena said. "He's got it bad."

"Did you guys see Amy's lipstick? Didn't it look a little smudged to you?" Mina asked. "You don't think..."

"James, breaking a law?" Raye asked. "He's too duty oriented." After being invited in by the Queen we stepped into her chambers on the transport ship.

"What's up, James?" She asked.

"Well Serenity, I'd like to ask a favor."

"Okay, what can I do for you?"

"Is it possible for you to grant me a temporary wave of immunity, just until I can speak with Admiral Lovette about changing that stupid law my father set down." I said. she looked dumbstruck for a second.

"You mean, you want to date Sailor Mercury?" She asked.

"That's correct, Serenity."

"And Amy, do you feel the same way?"

"Yes I do, Serenity." She replied. The Queen leaned back in her throne and smiled.

"Well, I tell you what I'll do, we're on vacation anyway, and I've already spoken to the Admiral, we'll be here for one week and then he'll meet us upon our arrival in the palace docking bay. So while we're here, technically we're out of the Moon Kingdom's bounds, so that law doesn't really apply here."

"I know that, Serenity." I replied. "But for legality, could you please issue a wave?"

"Okay, but it's a redundant measure."

"Thank you, Serenity." I replied. She pulled a piece of paper out of her side table drawer and scribbled a few words on it handing it to me.

"Now, you two will behave yourselves, won't you?" She asked.

"Serenity, I am not going to pursue any course of action that I am not fully prepared to compensate for." I replied.

"Good." she said. "I'll notify the Admiral of your wishes at once." She said. "Now then, go about your business, you two." She said. I saluted and turned around walking off the ship. After Amy had stepped out, I just couldn't contain it any longer.

"Oh yeah! And the half time score is, James Geo one, Jonathon Geo zippo!" I said. I then regained my composure and tightened my pony tail holder before walking back up to the others.

"Got the law changed huh?" Darien asked.

"Nope, not yet." I replied lighting another cigarette from the pack that Admiral Lovette had given me. "But I did the next best thing." I handed him the paper.

"A wave of immunity, impressive move, war dog." He replied. "You know this is redundant though don't you?"

"Yes and no." I replied. "The Moon Kingdom's laws may not apply to the people here, but the counsel doesn't recognize that. they apply those laws to all people within the Moon Kingdom's bounds, both physical and meta-physical, it may be redundant, but counsel will respect it." I said. "And when I get there, I'm going straight to Admiral Lovette's office to do one of two things, get a permanent Wave of Immunity, which is unlikely, or change the law altogether."

"So you two are a couple now, huh?"

"Yeah." Amy said smiling.

"For at least a week." I replied with the same grin on my face. They laughed. Just then my grandfather stepped outside and called to me.

"James! Come here for a second." He said.

"I'll be right back." I said walking up to the house and extinguishing the cigarette.

"So? did you kiss him?" Mina asked. Amy nodded.

"And? How is he?"

"Well, I don't have anything to compare it to, but it was probably the single most thrilling experience in my life." She replied.

"Was it before or after the Wave?" Darien asked.

"Why does that matter?" Mina asked. "The Wave is all inclusive, if he were to assault the queen, as long as he did it while the Wave was in effect he's untouchable." She replied.

"My point exactly." He replied.

"Oh, Darien, give the guy a break. I think what he's doing is very noble. His father was an arrogant pigheaded ass hole. That law shouldn't even be applicable since he was an informant." Raye said.

"Seriously." Amy said. "What do you have against him anyway, in case you didn't know it, he did save your life earlier."

"Okay, okay, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt this time." Darien replied holding his hands up. "We'll assume for the time being that his intentions are noble and pure, but should I see anything that makes me believe that this incident endangers Serena or Serenity in any way shape or form, I will call him on it, just for the record."

Meanwhile, inside the house, my Grandfather was talking to me, I was still on cloud nine.

"Oh man, I never imagined that anyone could feel like this." I said.

"It's a wondrous thing, isn't it?" He asked.

"Definitely, the best part about it is the jumbled feelings, like I don't know what to do next, confusion, yet crystal clarity all at the same time." He chuckled as I paced back and forth in front of him. "I feel like I could just fly away."

"Well, come back down to Earth long enough for me to give you some warnings." He replied. "Love is wonderful thing, James, it's the basis for all life in existence, true. However it can also be used against you to weaken your morals and your call to duty."

"What do you mean?"

"For example, let's assume that someone were to abduct both the princess and Sailor Mercury, and then he had them each suspended over a lake of lava, telling you that you could only save one of them."

"Serena comes first." I replied.

"It's easy to say that, James, but when you're actually placed in that scenario..."

"I'd save them both." I replied.

"That's impossible."

"Nothing is impossible, and I would find a way." I replied. He smiled at me.

"Just keep your wits about you." He replied. "I'm not scolding you, it's simply a theoretical situation." He said. "Well then, back to your friends." He stood up and started to walk away, shaking his head.

"Grandfather." I called to him. He stopped and turned around. "My duty to Serena will always come first, I've already given her my oath of honor."

"James, I just don't want you to fall prey to your own feelings."

"I won't Grandfather." I replied. He returned the smile and turned back around going back to his room. I walked back outside.

"Now then, what did I miss?" I asked walking up to the group again.

"Oh nothing, just a bunch of girl talk." Darien replied rolling his eyes. I nodded and looked at my wrist watch.

"Well then, I assume that the five of you can safeguard the princess for a couple of hours?" I asked.

"Yeah, why so long?" Mina asked.

"Evening training." I replied. "Just because I'm in doesn't mean I can slack off." I said.

"Well what does this training include?" Lita asked.

"Oh I do two hundred vertical pushups, one hundred weighted sit ups, a ten mile run, and then an hour of good old fashioned pain training."

"Pain training?" Serena asked.

"Oh yeah, basically what it is, is I get tied down for an hour and grandfather beats the hell out of me. It raises your endurance level to torture, sustaining combat injuries, and other such things that may be required of a marine. Usually it's only done once a week, but since I heal so quickly, we do it three times a week."

"That seems a little morbid." Darien said.

"Well, Darien, actually, I had a favor to ask you. Grandfather doesn't seem to be feeling well today, I was wondering if maybe you wanted to fill in for him."

"What?" Everyone asked.

"Whoa, wait a minute." He replied, smiling. "You want me, to beat the living hell out of you?" He asked. I nodded.

"If you don't mind."

"Oh, not only do I not mind, I would savor it." He replied. I smiled back at him.

"Well then, I'll be back shortly." I replied. I ran inside and changed into my exercise uniform before coming back up and stretching myself out. They noticed that the pants still had a large rip in one side.

"James, is that...?"

"The strip of cloth I tore off to bandage Amy's head wound? Yes it is." I replied. "It's my sweat band." I pointed to the tied cloth on my forehead. After my stretches I planted my hands in front of the house and flipped upright until I was completely upside down before starting to do my push-ups. The girls and Darien moved out of earshot.

"Now if that's not a turn on, I don't know what is." Lita said.

"Lita!" Mina scolded. "That's Amy's man."

"So? I can gawk." She replied sticking her tongue out.

"My god he's huge!" Darien said. "Does he have any body fat what so ever?"

"Jealous, Darien?" Raye asked.

"No, he's gotta be a slow hitter, anyone with the build is naturally slower because of the bulk." He smiled slightly. "Still, it is impressive." Amy was the only one who didn't say anything. She just stood there watching while the others continued talking. After I was finished with the push ups I moved to the left slightly and grabbed a large bar protruding from the house. I held myself up with one hand while I used the other to help my feet into the straps that held them securely to the side of the house. After tightening the straps and testing their durability I lowered myself and began sitting up in the same manner I had done my push ups.

"You have got to be joking." Mina said. "Does this guy have any downsides?"

"It doesn't seem like it, does it?" Raye replied. After I had finished with my sit-ups. I climbed down and stretched out again before walking to the end of the driveway and opening a small box that was attached underneath our mailbox. It was ankle and wrist weights. After placing them in their corresponding locations. I did a few more stretches and then took off, running as fast as I possibly could.

"He can't run ten miles at that pace can he?" Mina asked. But thirty minutes later I came back in, breathing heavily and staggering slightly.

"What's my time?"

"I don't know for sure, but about thirty minutes, give or take."

"Cool, that's ten minutes faster than the last time I ran it." I walked inside and toweled off, drinking a small glass of water before stepping outside. "Okay, Darien, right this way to the beating grounds." I smiled as I walked over to a large tree off to the side of the house by about twenty yards. I jumped up and grabbed a pair of shackles that were attached to a rope hanging from a large branch and affixed them to my wrists. "Okay then, Amy, if you would be so kind as to use the lower shackles to hold my feet still." I said. The lower shackles held my feet steady, spread at a forty five degree angle. "Now then, Darien, the objective of this exercise is to promote mental immunity to physical punishment, mind over matter, if you will. The only rules of the game is that you're not allowed to use any bladed or pointed objects, and you might want to avoid the groin area."

"Why? I thought it was for any form of torture." He replied.

"It is, but eventually I will get down from here." I replied. Everyone laughed again. "Now then, you may commence the beating." He pulled out his cane and swung at my face causing my head to shoot to the side, and me to spit blood. I turned back to face him with a trickle of blood running down the side of my jaw. "Not bad, but my grandpa hits harder than that. Come on, hit me!" I said. He smiled and removed his cape and hat, cracking his knuckles. He slammed his fist into my stomach and stepped back, I smiled at him. "Maybe I should have asked Serena to do this?" I asked. That was the straw that broke the camel's back, he tore into me like a kid with bubble wrap, and might I add it was quite painful. For a poor little rich boy, he sure could pack a punch. When the hour was up, he finally stopped and I was lowered to the ground. After laying there a few minutes I climbed back up to my feet and extended my hand to him. He wiped the sweat off his brow then accepted my gesture and we shook hands.

"That was fun." He said smiling. "We'll have to do this again some time."

"Well don't get your hopes up, I'm taken." I replied smiling through my bruised and broken face. Everyone else laughed at the joke too. "Now then, I'm going to go take a shower and get changed." When I finished the shower and changed, it was time to eat. ************ We sat down to eat and Darien marveled at me.

"You're healed?" He asked.

"I told you, I heal fast, the broken rib will be healed by night fall." I indicated the ace bandage wrapping my chest.

"You're something else, Commander, you know that?" He asked.

"Yup, and proud of it." I replied. The rest of the meal was finished with light conversation, followed by music as Grandfather followed that up with another music lesson.

"Well then, since we have company tonight, how about a recap? You haven't had a lesson in three years, let's test your retention." He handed me the acoustic guitar and my pitch pipe. I spent about five minutes getting it tuned before he dropped the sheet music in front of me.

"Where did you get this?" I asked.

"Oh, I made a trip to the music shop in town while you were in meditation, I figured you might enjoy a healthy change of pace."

"Enjoy it? Oh man, I love this song." I glanced over the sheet music for a few minutes before spreading the pages out and starting. It was an Earth rock song. Darien listened for a few minutes then stood up.

"Okay, hold it right there." He said. "It just doesn't sound right." He walked out to the transport and came back in with two large plastic cases. He took the guitar away from me and handed me another one. This one was electric. He then picked up an electric bass guitar and plugged them both into the amplifier. I was flipping the guitar pick up and down my fingers as he went about it. Finally he sat back down. "Now then, let's try this again, war dog, shall we?" He asked. I checked the guitar and found it to be perfectly tuned. I smiled slightly and flipped the power switch before testing the volume, I then kissed the guitar pick and looked at him for a minute before gazing back down at the sheet music and playing the intro over again. He was right it sounded so much better with an electric guitar. After the guitar intro finished he played along, using the bass rifts to accompany the lead and mellow the song out. After we had played it for a little while he stopped. "Let's try it again, this time sing it." He replied. I smiled and started the intro again and this time we sang through it, Darien took the background vocals. The song was called `A Thousand Years'. I'm not sure whether they were more surprised with my voice, or I was. After the song was finished, Darien smiled at me. "You know, James, if I didn't know any better I would say that you wrote that song." I smiled and looked at the guitar before biting the pick and laying the guitar down gently on the couch. I then turned to my Grandfather.

"Exactly what happened while I was in trance?" I asked him.

"Your entire body changed, James, inside and out. When you trance for the first time, it harnesses the energies within yourself and uses those energies to adapt you to match the lifestyle that fate will lead you on." I narrowed my eyes.

"There's no such thing as fate." I replied.

"Really?" He asked. "Then how do you explain a twenty thousand year old wall telling the story of your life from the day you were born until the day of your death."

"How do I explain it? A lunatic calling himself a prophet, and a few freak coincidences is how I explain it." I said. "Because if fate really existed, then that wall would make a savior, and I can promise you that is one thing that I'm not."

"Freak coincidences, huh?" He asked. "Do you remember me instructing you on how to read Ancient Lunar Script?" He asked. I nodded. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a rubbing. "Read this out loud."

"Jamison Andrew Geo and Amy Michelle Anderson will..." I handed him the paper back. "Get this thing out of my sight." I said.

"Finish reading it." I looked at him and finally yanked the tracing paper back over and glanced at Amy, she looked just as confused as I did.

"Jamison Andrew Geo and Amy Michelle Anderson will be wed on the opening night of the sixteenth harvest. The man of gold and silver, having previously encountered Jamison, will enter, un-invited and bring about..." I looked confused. "That's it? Bring about what?"

"What do you care, there's no such thing as fate."

"So just because you give me this little rubbing to read from telling me that I'm going to marry Amy on the opening night of the sixteenth harvest, whatever that's supposed to mean, that I'm supposed to be a believer in fate?"

"James, what's so wrong with believing in fate?"

"Because, I don't like the thought of anyone telling me that I am not in control of my life." I replied to Darien's question. "And no piece of paper, and no wall is going to change that." I said looking at my grandfather before getting up and walking outside. I quickly lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply, closing my eyes and counting to ten to calm myself down.

"James?" Amy's voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Yes?" I asked.

"Did I do something to anger you?" She asked.

"No, why would you think that?"

"Because you blew up on your grandfather when he told you that we were going to be married. From the way you were talking earlier, I'd have thought that you would have liked that." She said. I turned to face her and took another drag off the cigarette.

"Amy, I would love nothing more than to end up married to you." I said. "Then we could move away to some quiet place like this and just live out our lives together."

"Then what's the problem?" She asked.

"It's just that, I don't know how to explain it, I don't like feeling restricted to one path in life. If I marry you, I want it to be because I want to, not because some damned wall tells me to." She nodded.

"Well if you want to, then who cares what that wall says?" She asked. I shrugged and looked away, sitting down and leaning back against a tree.

"I just don't like it." I said. "I'm sorry if I offended you, but I was raised to believe in one single concept above all others, freedom. If there is such a thing as fate, then there is no such thing as freedom, because that means that we're all just mindless robots running about on a set path. That would mean that anyone who is evil doesn't have a choice but to be so. It would mean that I will be cheated of life because I'll die when someone else said I will. It would mean that I am powerless to defend you or Serena, or Serenity, because if fate says it's their turn to be killed then it has got to be so." I said. "I am a Wing Commander in the Moon Defense Team, and it's my job to protect the lives of those under the rule of Queen Serenity, and with God as my witness, I will not fail at the fore mentioned task." Everyone had gathered on the porch by this point and I stared up at my Grandfather. "Period." I said. He smiled back at me and walked over to me handing me the piece of paper.

"If what you say is true, then burn this paper to ashes." He said. "Destroy your fate." He smiled down at me. I grabbed the paper standing up and holding my lighter underneath it. He moved my hand aside. "You burn the paper, James, not your lighter." I looked up at him and held out my hand summoning another ball of flame to my palm and holding it up to the paper. The paper began to burn but I was suddenly overcome by an agonizing pain. I battled against it as the paper continued flaming. The pain grew more and more intense within myself.

"What is this?" I asked through clenched teeth.

"Feeling something?" He asked.

"What is this?" I asked again, louder.

"Our fates are connected to us, James Geo, you continue burning that paper and you will die." He replied. "Are you ready for that?" I pulled the energy ball away and the paper regenerated itself. "I didn't think so." He said. I just stared at him as he walked away and held the paper up to one side, I then launched the fireball through the paper, scorching the entire thing to ashes and watching it blow into the wind. Everyone gasped as he turned around.

"Nice try, grandfather, but it will take more than magical binding to change my mind." He smiled and shook his head continuing to walk up to the house.

"James, you're too smart for your own good, you know that?" After that issue was over, Amy sat down beside me and we talked about miscellaneous things until sun set. That night, and every night that week, Amy slept in my room with me while she was off duty. Darien got to beat the hell out of me two more times, and each time he got a little better at it. I also instructed the Sailor Scouts in some basic moves and techniques of Crystalis, they, like me, were fast learners and picked up quickly. Even Darien and Serena took a few lessons. At the end of the week my things were packed and loaded and I bid my mother goodbye.

"James, I don't know what I'll do with all my time now." She said.

"If you want, mom, I can have your residence transferred to the kingdom." I suggested. "Who knows, maybe you can meet someone new." She smiled.

"That'd be nice, James, I'd appreciate it."

"I love you mom, and I'll get the ball rolling as soon as I get there." I said giving her a last hug before walking over and climbing on board the ship.

"Well, James, penny for your thoughts?" Serenity asked looking very nervous.

"Are you okay, Serenity?"

"I hate space travel." She replied. "These pilots are so rough it's not funny." She said. I looked up into the cock-pit.

"Are they RPU?" I asked. She nodded. "I'll be right back." I walked up to the bridge of the craft and found the two of them joking. "What the hell is going on in here?" I asked.

"Uh...Sir, preparing for lift off, sir!" The first one said.

"You had better make this ride smoother than the skin on a babies bottom private, bumpy rides make me airsick, and my fuse gets really short when I don't feel good, do you get me?"

"Sir, yes sir!" He said. "But, I'm a sergeant sir."

"Not if you screw this up." I replied.

"Sir, yes sir!" He replied. I nodded and then moved back to the Queen's quarters.

"Problem solved, Serenity."

"Man, one week in that uniform and he's already resorting to threats."

"They work." I replied smiling. "Now then, just kick back and relax..." I said. The ship jolted as it lifted off the ground. I scowled for a second. "I'll be right back." I went back up to the bridge. "What the Sam hell was that, private?"

"Sir, standard lift-off turbulence, sir!" He replied.

"Bullshit, private gimme those ranks." I took them off his shoulder. "You can have them back when I get a smooth fucking ride, do you understand me!"

"Sir yes sir!" He replied. I then moved back to the Queen's Quarters and sat down again.

"He thought I was bluffing." I smiled and shook my head. The rest of the ride was perfectly smooth. Serenity was so relaxed that she even fell asleep! A few hours later, we arrived at the palace. Admiral Lovette was waiting for us with two full companies of marines. I stepped off the transport first. Stepping off to the side and standing at attention. The Sailor Scouts were next, they stood off to the opposite side at the position of attention. Prince Darien stepped up to the door and both Mina and Myself raised our arms for him to use to step down. After he was down we resumed our positions and performed the same task for the Princess and then the Queen. After they stepped off, I dropped my bags and stepped back on the ship going to the bridge and handing the sergeant his ranks back. "You pull anything like you did today again, sergeant, and those ranks are gone for good."

"Sir, yes sir!" He replied.

"Carry on." I said stepping back off the transport. It pulled away and moved into a docking bay before landing. The admiral had four soldiers run up and grab my luggage.

"Good to see you, Commander, which do you want to see first? Your men, your room, or the renewed temporary restricted wave of immunity granting you the time you need to get that law repealed."

"Your kidding." I replied. "Thank you very much, sir, how much time does it give me?"

"You have one year, son, keep me happy with the RPU and I might even back you."

"You will not be disappointed, sir, that's a promise." I said. "Is there an existing commander of RPU?" I asked. He nodded.

"Lieutenant Commander Daniel Wolfehart, he's a pretty sound Marine, one of the more disciplined in the team. However, he lacks the brass that a Marine Officer should have. Do you?"

"Sir, With a little inspiration from yours truly, Serenity enjoyed this ride so much, that she even fell asleep." I said. He stopped for a second.

"Fell asleep? Damn, that's some brass for you, I'm impressed. Keep making me happy, and I'll keep making you happy."