The trip around the colonies took several days, then several more for Vateen's trip to earth. By that time, all had returned to Argo's ship except for Thomas and Jamie. When it was found out some days later that Thomas and Jamie had been thrown into a Neo-French prison, Argo became very upset. Those children were in there for him and apparently holding out strongly. Vateen was sent to check it out and returned in just hours.

"According to the news, Thomas was thrown into the brig for 'snooping in matters unrelated to him' and 'treason against the Neo-France colonies.'" He informed them, much to everyone's displeasure.

"How can they say that?" Tiso demanded her fiancé, who shrugged.

"I'm just telling you what I heard," Vateen said, shoving his hands into his pockets. For being the goof of the group, he had done serious growing up for this matter, but they were sure he would come back after the total shock finally faded within him.

"Well, we can't just stand here and do nothing," Chen told them, clenching a fist in anger. "I'll go to the French colony and see what I can do."

"No," Argo told him, glancing over as Nastasha entered the room. "If you go you'll only be arrested and thrown into prison with them. This we must leave to this George and his wife. They will not let him sit in prison like that."

"Yeah, but I don't trust them," Tiso grit out. "They could have said something before he was sent to prison, but they let him go anyway. If that's the way it is, then they should not even be able to say that they are his parents!"

"That is not true," Nastasha told them, having had enough. "Thomas' grandfather is still the king of Neo-France, and even if it is for the wrong reasons, this may teach him a lesson about being so rash."

Tiso stopped, forcing herself to calm down. As much as she hated to say it, Nastasha was right. "I know, but…"

"Heh." Vateen crossed his arms, looking down to earth. "Anyway, I managed to get information on Kier's father, not Kier himself. " Both Nastasha and Argo looked to him, remaining quiet even as the young man looked at them again. "It seems he did a lot of stupid things that have people angry with him, including starting a revolt with children against their parents. They refused to speak of Kier."

Argo looked to Eva, who had cried herself to sleep on a nearby sofa. He felt sorry for the young girl for witnessing the entire scene of her brother killing… That did not matter.

"We didn't find anything else," Tiso informed the large man, as if reading his thoughts. It was a subject changer, at least.

"Neo-Australia's pilot, Joshua, says that Kier used to go to the Neo-Boarding School with us, and that he was mostly quiet, but that he had picked on Nicolas more than once. It seems that he's hated Nicolas longer than most of us knew," Vateen said, his eyes once more following the landmasses on earth.

Chen thought a moment. "That's right! I remember Kier, now. He was that bully who did everything his father told him, too. But that was the only reason he was a bully; I remember that he always apologized after he was done beating his victim up, but only so that they could hear. If they brought it back up, he denied it and bullied them again."

Tiso nodded. "He was annoying during gundam practice… It got so bad that we had to constantly be around Nicolas to save him." She laughed sadly. "He had so many phobias back then…"

Argo cleared his throat, looking away. The children did the same, turning back to the conversation before.

"I asked Josh to come help us," Vateen told them, "and he will. He won't fight unless he absolutely has to. He said that he didn't see the shooting, and so it's none o' his business."

"That's a smart boy," Nastasha commented lightly, looking at the children to try and give them the hint. None of them paid any attention; she sighed.

"What now," Tiso wondered aloud.

Thomas watched the man bring his food and water, setting them on the floor in front of him. He was dirty, tired and irritable. Never in his life had he been treated as a criminal, and he certainly did not envy those people who really were guilty of crimes.

"Drink up, your highness," the guard mocked, standing again to take his leave.

"Show more respect to your prince," Thomas sniffed, holding his head upright.

"Of course," the man snarled in harsh laughter. "For you and your princess." He motioned to the prison food at the young man's feet.

Thomas kicked it over. "I refuse to eat such disgusting food served to me by those jealous of my own lot in life."

The man, who had had quite enough, unlocked the door and began beating the former crowned prince for his mouth. Thomas sucked in a breath, allowing himself to be beaten. He would say or do nothing so that his father would punish the man later. He glanced up, checking the name tag once before being kicked in the face. He refused to give the man the pleasure of hearing him scream out in pain. 'Avenall Audric' it said. He would store that into his memory….

It was not much longer when an enraged Chibodee and Shirley Crocket raced in to take their daughter back. George fought on their behalf, demanding that his son be released, as well. Maria-Louise swore that she would get her son out, even if charged with treason herself. George did not like that idea, but he did not need say that when the king growled, handing the children over to their parents.

"Jamie," Shirley sighed, holding the beaten woman tightly. "Come on, Jamie. Dad and I will take you home."

"No," Jamie grit out. "I am not done with my job. Not yet…"

"Give it up, Jam," Chibodee sighed, using his old nickname for her. One of his hands rested on the shoulders of his seven year old son, Bastien. "Just give Argo time to calm down. Quit stirring up trouble in his tired mind."

Jamie shook her head. "I have made up my mind."

Thomas watched her while his parents petted his hair, his face, and everything else they could to show gratitude that their son was safe-- beaten and dishonored by those in charge of the prisons, but alive.

"Avenall Audric," he muttered, finally turning to his parents. "I want him captured and given a taste of his own treatment." He turned, ignoring protests, and walked quickly to Jamie. Brushing off the glares of her parents, he whispered into her ear.

"Are you sure," Jamie gasped.

Thomas nodded. "Why else would he have done this?"

Jamie looked down, clearly in shocked. "I never would have thought…"

Chibodee grabbed his daughter's arm. "C'mon. You need to come with us back to Neo-America, where I can keep an eye on you."

Jamie jerked free. "We need to solve this quickly," she sputtered, following Thomas out the side door.

A/N: I actually managed to get a chapter done today! YAY!

I need to try and keep up writing one chapter per day, even if they are really short. So far, however, I'm annoying myself with (what seems like to me) clichés… Ah, well…

Enjoy!