Read the little preview from the first chapter.

From the Other Side

Chapter 2

A New Problem

Anna O'Connell sat quietly in between Madame President and Colonel Kruger. Madame President was doing all she could to avoid the young woman's eyes. Colonel Kruger paid no attention to how uncomfortable the two women seemed around each other, if he even noticed the unease at all. Emperor Rudolph and Prime Minister Holmalef sat across from the three Republicans. Rudolph had tried to ask Anna some questions on Native history, but she would always shrug and turned away. The Prime Minister kept glancing at the clock wondering when the others were arriving.

A couple minutes later Colonel Schubaltz entered with the Guardian Force right behind him. The new additions to the group sent a curious look Anna's way but said nothing. Colonel Herman arrived shortly after that, followed by Captain O'Connell who was still favoring his left leg and right arm still in sling.

"Are you okay, Captain," Madame President asked. She had heard he was injured, but she didn't think it was so bad.

O'Connell saluted with his good arm. "I'm fine, Madame President. Thank you for your concern."

"He's seen worse injuries," Anna said. Everyone was finally taking a good look at the young woman.

Karl raised an eyebrow. "And you are?"

"My name is Ann O'Connell, Captain O'Connell's twin sister. I'm here to help you with the Native part of the new situation," she explained.

Herman eyed the strange girl; no one had one eye one color and the other eye another color. "We don't know much about what they want to resurrect except that there is a Lord Marx involved."

"Is that everything you know? Is there any small detail that you've left out?" Anna demanded. It was now that everyone could tell that Anna had a slight accent to her, like she spoke another language.

"Something was sealed," O'Connell told his sister. "In Native legends, the smallest details can make the biggest deal. Anna understands this greatly."

"Interesting," Rudolph said.

"Anna, I mean Miss O'Connell, will you say your people's true name?" Fiona asked.

Anna closed her eyes, when she reopened them, everyone could almost feel a royal aurora around her. "The people of the forest," Anna said in Native. She shook her head and the aurora was gone, and Anna repeated herself, this time in English.

"I thought so, I'd like to hear how your people survived all these years," Fiona said with a smile.

Anna and O'Connell nodded in unison, as if to say another time. The group stared at the three for a time. Thomas was the first to speak. "This is nice, nice and confusing, but what about the little problem of an evil zoid of some kind being resurrected?"

"Who says it's a zoid," Anna said casually. "Lord Marx and the other sealers could have sealed a zoid, a monster, even a fellow Zoidian. With the information you have given me, I can think of a hundred legends just off the top of my head."

"The bandits who attacked your brother were looking for the reincarnation of Lord Marx," Herman supplied.

Anna let out a sigh. "Now we're looking at a prophecy, not a legend."

"And how many prophecies is there a prophecy fits those guide lines?" Madame President asked.

"There is probably a thousand, at least. I don't have enough details to simply say it's one and not another," Anna finally said after a long silence.

"You'll have to come to the base with us and determine the legend as we go," Herman said as he and the other started leave.

Anna looked annoyed. "Who said I was going with you?"

"I did, just now."

"I'm sorry, I can't play with you all at the moment, but I have to get home where I'm actually needed," Anna said as she pushed through the room. Herman grabbed her wrist to stop her from brushing him off. Anna used her captured hand to twist Herman's. Her other hand slapped him across the face as she freed herself. Anna muttered something in Native and left quickly.

Herman turned to face his second in command. On his face was a bright red mark where Anna had slapped him. O'Connell shook his head; he would not translate Anna's insult. Before Herman could leave to catch up to Anna, Karl stopped him.

"Let me talk to her," Schublatz suggested. Kruger nodded, knowing that Anna might be more open to listen to someone who had not made her feel insulted by orders.

It didn't take long to find Anna; she was lost in the unfamiliar building. Karl gulped and prepared himself for a loud, and possibly painful for him, argument. "Miss O'Connell, I think you are making a mistake by not helping us. Except for your brother, none of us have much knowledge on Native legends or prophecies. Most of Planet Zi may be wiped out."

"May judgment day spare you," Anna said without care. "My people have survived this far, we can last a little longer."

"What about the rest of your country, the non-Natives?" Karl said, trying to strike a nerve.

Anna snorted in disgust. "Did you know the Republic came from the Natives and was at one time called the Native Republic? Did you know that we welcomed those humans who were feeling the Empire with open arms and made them our brothers, and now the Natives are barley known?"

"What about your brother?" Karl asked. "According to the bandits who had attacked him, he is the reincarnation of Lord Marx. He's going to have to fight. Are you going to let him do it alone?"

All the time the two had been talking, Schubaltz had led Anna into the hangar and to O'Connell's zoid. Karl had done it, Anna couldn't respond with an open no and more or less predicting her brother's death. Anna sat down on the foot of O'Connell's shield liger's foot and hugged her knees to her chest.

"Your brother is that other Imperial officer that was there, right?" Anna didn't wait for an answer. "You two remind me of knight brothers, Sir Kenneth and Sir Timothy. They were from a group of Ancient Zoidians who were much like your precious Empire. They would corporated a lot with King Marx and even when he was still a lord. I guess you could call the three friends."

"Why are you telling me all this?"

"I don't know, but what is your name. If you don't tell me, I'll keep calling you Sir Ken," Anna said.

"Colonel Karl Lichen Schubaltz," he said shaking Anna's hand. "Will you help us Anna? Not for the world, but for your brother?"

"Of course I'll help you, how could I turn down someone so cute?" Anna said teasingly. Karl, not used to a girl being so bold with him, blushed a cherry red. Anna laughed all the way back to the meeting room as Karl shuffled behind her.