Thanks for the reviews, everyone! I was already passionate about this story, and now I'm really into it!

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Sparks headed to Nova's room later that evening, thinking about her sudden announcement.

She didn't sound too happy to be going on vacation. I think there's something else going on. I just hope I can get it out of her. As Sparks rounded the corner, he could see that Nova's door was slightly open.

"Hey, Nova?" Sparks said as he gently pushed open the door. Nova was busy packing her pink luggage with her exercise equipment, her stuffed animals, and…pretty much everything in her room.

"Hey, Sparks," Nova acknowledged him, keeping focus on packing. "What's up?"

Okay, Sparks, he reminded himself, try not to say something stupid, or else she'll kick your tail out and you'll never find out what's wrong. "Just…wanted to see if you needed any help."

"Uh…" Nova was a little surprised by Sparks' show of friendship. "No, I'm almost done. Thanks, anyway."

"No prob," Sparks said, thinking of how to bring up his concern lightly. "You're packing a lot for a vacation…"

"Well, yeah, but, what girl doesn't?" Nova said with a giggle. I love hearing her laugh, Sparks thought happily, but I know something's wrong.

"Heh, yeah," Sparks chuckled. Alright, Sparks, enough beating around the bush! She's your friend, and if you wanna get any further, you have to be honest.

"Look, Nova, I, uh…, you don't seem too happy to be visiting Offay. Is something else going on?" Sparks then braced himself for a beating.

"I'm fine, Sparks."

Sparks let his guard down and opened his eyes. "You're…not mad at me for butting into your business?"

"No," Nova assured him. "But, I've been thinking, and…there's something I want to talk about."

"Sure," Sparks replied almost immediately. Yes! I'm getting somewhere!

"Well," Nova said, putting down her stuffed blue space pony and turning to Sparks, "I know we haven't always been very nice to each other. And, I want that to change."

"Oh," Sparks said, his heart jumping. Not the direction I was planning to go in, but I like it! "I want it to change, too."

"Great," Nova said happily, "so, you try not to be an arrogant jerk all the time, and I won't slam you against the wall everyday?"

"Heh, I don't know if I can do that," Sparks joked, but then remembered what had just been discussed. "But I can do it for you."

"Thank you." Nova smiled and turned back to her luggage. Sparks started for the door, then stopped.

Well that was nice, Sparks thought, but I know something's still bothering her. Lemme try something else.

"Uh…Nova?"

"Yeah, Sparks?"

"Remember when I said I was glad to have you, as my friend?"

"Yeah."

"I really meant that."

Nova smiled the most beautiful smile Sparks had ever seen. "I know. And I'm glad to have you as my friend, too." They stood in silence and smiles for a moment, then Nova stepped forward and gave Sparks a hug.

"I'll miss you, Sparks."

Sparks stood dumbfounded for a second, then smiled and returned the hug. "I'll miss you too, Nova."

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Late the next morning, the Hyperforce was continuing their work after Nova had left. While Antauri took Chiro to the training room to practice the Power Primate, Gibson and Otto had been working on the Foot Thruster 6 to temporarily put it on auto-pilot while Nova was gone. Sparks was supposed to be helping, but decided to polish his magnets instead. He couldn't stop thinking about what had happened the night before.

I'm glad to be on Nova's good side, Sparks thought as he checked his reflection in his perfectly buffed magnet, but I still think there's more to her vacation than she wants to admit. Well, as long as she comes back safely, everything will be fine. Maybe she'll even want to take things to the next level when she gets back.

Suddenly, Sparks heard a small explosion and a monkey screech from somewhere inside the robot. Gibson then entered from his tube, his face covered in soot, looking irritated. Again, kinda funny.

"Looked in the mirror lately, Gibson?" Sparks joked.

"Oh, very humorous, Sparks," Gibson said dryly. "If you're not going to help, can you at least go get Otto?"

"I thought he was helping you."

"He was, until he got a transmission on his com receptors. He said it was private and went to his room. I haven't seen him in the last ten minutes."

"Fine," Sparks said as he got up, "but if I scuff my magnets while I'm up there, it's on your tail."

Gibson scowled at that and went into his lab to clean up. Sparks headed to the upper level of the robot toward Otto's room. He's probably ordering a week's worth of Mr. Gakslopper's, Sparks thought. As he drew closer, he could Otto's voice.

"No…no, I haven't told anyone, Nova…"

Hold up!, Sparks thought as he literally stopped in his tracks, I knew something was going on! Figures she'd tell Otto. He stood outside near the door to hear more.

"I know, but…I think the rest of the team should know…What if we never see you again?"

Sparks had heard enough. He ran into the room, tackled Otto to the ground, causing the transmission to go out, and held him down. "What's happening to Nova?! Tell me!"

"I can't tell you, Sparks." Otto protested, trying to loosen his brother's grip. "It's a secret!"

"You just said the rest of the team should know, and we may never see her again! Now spit it out!"

"Yeah, but-"

"Don't make me shock it out of you, Otto!" Sparks threatened as he activated his magnet and pointed it toward Otto. Just then, Gibson entered the room.

"What in the- Sparks! Get off of him!" Gibson pulled Sparks off of Otto, found the safety lock on Sparks' arm, and deactivated his magnets.

"Hey!" Sparks yelled, pushing Gibson off of him.

"Sparks! Calm down before Antauri hears you!" Gibson yelled back. "Now what's going on up here?"

"Why don't you ask Otto?" Sparks suggested sarcastically. "Oh wait, he won't tell anyone!"

"I promised Nova I wouldn't tell!" Otto defended. He sounded more upset than angry.

"Alright, that's enough," Gibson said as he stepped in between them. He turned to Sparks with a disapproving look. "Sparks…" He motioned toward Otto, who had a slightly hurt look on his face.

"I'm sorry, buddy," Sparks said to Otto, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I didn't mean to hurt you, I just got really worried."

"It's ok," Otto smiled. Sparks often forgot how sensitive Otto was, and Otto forgot how strong Sparks was.

"That's better," Gibson said, "Now I'm curious as to what started all this."

"I heard him talking to Nova," Sparks told Gibson, "something about how he can't tell us, and never seeing Nova again."

"Is that correct, Otto?"

"Yeah, but…Nova doesn't want you guys to know."

"Otto," Gibson said calmly, "if you know something's going on with Nova, you should tell us. Whether Nova likes it or not, we need to know if something's wrong."

Otto paused, then let out a little sigh. "Okay, I'll tell you. A few days ago, Nova got a message from Master Offay. It said that…he wants Nova to get married."

Gibson's jaw dropped in surprise, Otto had a guilty look on his face, but no one was more shocked than Sparks. He could feel his heart drop into his stomach. So many emotions struck him all at once, and so did many questions. But all he could say was; "Wha?"

"Otto, I-I don't understand! How could she, not tell us? What could Offay, possibly be thinking?" Gibson spat out in short-winded breaths.

"Offay thinks Nova needs a strong warrior in her life. And as her mentor, he has the authority to choose the groom and give Nova away," Otto explained.

Each word was killing Sparks. How could the girl of my dreams go off and marry another guy? he thought sadly.

"Nova didn't really wanna do it, but she didn't wanna let down Offay. So, she kinda let us down. Once she's, you know, married, she'll probably stay on Galaxia. Forever."

"Forever?" Sparks muttered sadly.

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Thanks for reading! Please review!

Note: I know Offay's decision seems uncharacteristic, but it will be explained in a later chapter ;)