Crista had brewed coffee and was leaning against the island holding a cup half asleep. She snapped awake however when Marvin emerged from the doorway.

"I'm up." She said drearily, rubbing her eyes.

He gave her a half glare and went about fixing his uniform. She watched him as he did so and thought to herself,

'Wow he looks so good in his commanding outfit.'

He looked sideways at her as he was fixing his sneakers, "What are you staring at?"

Crista, "Uh nothing…do you want some coffee?"

"No I'll be just fine thanks." Blowing her off.

Then K-9 came out from behind Marvin and lazily walked towards Crista. She let down her hand and he licked it, he sat at her feet expecting something. She was slow to realizing,

"…oh!"

She turned and grabbed the treat box and fed him one.

Crista, "Here ya go puppy, thank you."

She rubbed him on the head and he trotted away. She looked up to see Marvin glaring from the dog to her.

Sipping coffee she asked, "What?"

Marvin, "Nothing, now if you're quite done let's get a move on." He said as he moved toward the door

Talking with herself, "Thanks for the eggs Crista they were good. No problem Commander my pleasure."

She set down her cup, grabbed her cloak and went out the door.

Marvin was already half a mile ahead of her so she had to dash for it in order to catch up.

Panting she sarcastically said, "Thanks for waiting. Did you know that I just suffered from a recent head injury?"

She looked up to see the dark, ominous rock towers surrounding them, filling her with a sort of dread. She stepped closer to him, looking at him with a new shyness.

"So how was your night-"

He snapped, "Fine!"

Crista, "You know sometimes you need to just let go of things."

He whipped around, "How dare you say that! How can I forgive and let go when it's unforgivable!"

She replied calmly, "Well for me, I must forgive those who hurt me, for He forgave me first and it would be unjust in not doing so."

Marvin, "Well that's all good and done for you, but me, I'm different!"

Crista, "Not really Marvin, it's dangerous to hold this in and let it root inside of you."

He looked down and just kept walking.

Finally they reached the palace, he clambered up to a small machine beside the door and punched in.

She giggled, "Just like Earth."

He simply growled at that remark. Entering in they passed by an uncountable amount of centurions and guards saluting and shooting a 'Welcome back Commander'. Soon they came to the Queen's court.

Tyr'ahnee gleefully shouted, "Commander! I'm so glad you're back!"

She picked him up, giving him a hug. He seemed to almost melt within her arms but he quickly he pulled away.

Marvin, "Yes my Queen, I am back. But I have something to discuss with you…alone."

The two looked toward Crista. Getting the hint she skedaddled.

As soon as she exited she whipped around and clung to the door-frame pressing her ear up against the wall hard, straining to hear the conversation.

He sighed, "Forgive me my Queen for the way I've been acting towards you and for my irrational actions. You didn't deserve any of it."

She was brimming with joy at his apology and hugged him again, "Yes Commander I forgive you. But are you able to live with the fact that I will always love Dodgers?"

He exhaled, "Yes, I'll be able to live with it, not happily, but I accept it."

Meanwhile Crista still had her ear glued to the wall when Marvin walked out, catching her in the act.

She jumped, "Uh, I was just uh ya know, chillin'."

He raised an eyebrow, "Right."

Moments later Marvin, Crista and a Centurion were gathered in a small room riddled with computer consoles and a transporter.

Marvin, "Today will be a private te-"

Crista, "YES!"

He continued, "Test. Now this magnificent piece of technology that I created is a Martian simulator. It will be able to transport you into any scenario of your choice.

She yawned, "Like a holodeck, we have tons of them on Earth, boring."

He boiled, "Wrong! Unlike your earthen holographs, this simulator is the real deal."

She lifted an eyebrow, "Meaning?"

He gritted through teeth, "Meaning, what ever happens to you in there, happens to you in real life."

She gulped in small traces of fear, "Oh."

He smirked in satisfaction, "Today we'll be testing your attack techniques on hand to hand combat."

Crista, "Uh I never really practiced-"

He ignored her and went on, "Choose your weapon."

The Centurion came out with a tray containing three laser swords. Crista chose one of the larger ones, green and glowing…it seemed sturdy enough.

Marvin, "Now if you'll just step into the transporter we'll get on with it."

Crista, "Uh yeah, about that, you see I might have a concussion and-"

The Centurion picked her up and set her in it.

Marvin, "Vaporize."

She was zapped into a virtual square with nothing in effect. In a flash the square came to life with a red dessert canvas complete with those ominous mountainous rocks encircling the landscape. Over a hidden speaker Marvin's voice was being heard,

"I will be setting you off with the basic level two and we'll start from there."

Crista, "Commander I don't think this is-"

Suddenly Marvin and a couple dozen battle hungry robots materialized.

Crista, "You're going to help me Commander?"

"I am not the real Commander X-2, I am an exact copy materialized here in order to assist you with this event. Gracing you most definitely with my expertise and skill."

She bluntly commented, "It sure talks all drawn out and winded like the Commander."

Instantly the robots sprang into action, surrounding her. Without thinking she started slashing and swinging her sword at anything that moved. Within minutes all were dead save X-2 and Crista.

She was panting in exhilaration, "That was fun, killed them all quickly I did."

X-2, "Only because I did most of the work while you flailed about hitting nothing."

Crista, "Yup, and arrogant like him too."

X-2, "Listen Earth creature, just follow my lead and you won't hurt yourself."

Crista"Oh you can go."

She swung her sword and sliced through his neck causing X-2 to disintegrate.

She smiled delightedly, "Good-bye."

Marvin watched this and grimaced, "Oh you think you're so sly! How would you like it on level 10!"

The Centurion frantically shouted, "Commander that'll be too hard for Princess Crista!"

But he ignored his plea. Thousands of robots materialized and dashed straight for Crista.

As she was fighting she shouted, "Commander this is a little too rough for me!"

Marvin raised the dial even more, level 22.(Side note: it goes up to level 30 which is labeled 'you're screwed')

Centurion, "Commander! You are going to kill Princess Crista!

Marvin, "Precisely!"

Crista cried, "Commander! Stop this Commander! Marvin!"

As she shouted his name a robot shot his phaser into her side. Blinded by a white pain she dropped her sword.

Marvin cut through, "Stop the program."

She was materialized back into the transporter room, only dropping to her knees half conscious. The Centurion came to her aid speedily and picked her up to carry her to sickbay. But before she fell into complete unconsciousness she gave a lasting look at Marvin, only seeing a stone cold glare in reply.

…

Once in sickbay Crista had recently awaken after a life saving surgery. She used her time to process what had taken place in the transporter room. Jolting her out of her thoughts, was a knock at the door.

She rasped, "Come in."

Marvin entered. She tried to sit up, but the attempt failed.

"Don't try to move, you might reopen the wound." He said gently.

Crista, "And you care why?"

He came and sat down next her.

He asked hesitantly, "Do you need anything?"

She first wore a disgusted look on her face and then began to think, "Actually yes, I would like for you to pray with me."

Marvin, "But!"

She gave him a glare which silenced him and he agreed. They took each other's hand and began in a silent prayer. A bit later he lifted his head, and moved her dress up a tad to reveal the wound that he caused. She snapped her head in fright at the forward touch. In response to what he saw he gingerly put his hand upon the wound. She winced but smiled at the sentiment of his action.

He didn't move his eyes from off her wound. He recalled late last night and early this morning; how she knocked herself out trying to get away from him, how she was in his bed, even the breakfast she cooked him didn't go unnoticed within his minds eye.

Suddenly the doctor came in interrupting the moment, "Excuse me but I must examine Princess Crista for further evaluation."

He pulled out a scanner and took a few notes.

Doctor, "You're healing just fine but there is a slight problem."

Her voice was laced with panic, "What?"

Doctor, "I've seen the diagram of your internal structure and have noted that you are still human, internally. The only external sign is your brown human eyes. Now if this isn't corrected by itself this will be a fatal issue, for if word gets out, an uproar could take hold and disaster might strike. So you might have to be executed if your condition stays the same."

Crista, "So I'm still human?"

Doctor, "That is correct."

Marvin ripped his hand from her side, got up and started to walk out.

She was surprised by his sudden mood change, "Marvin why are you leaving?"

Then the Queen entered the room, in time to hear this.

"I hate Earth creatures!"

After giving a glare at Crista, he turned, bowed to the Queen flashing her an adoring look, and left. Crista started to tear up in emotional turmoil.

Tyr'ahnee asked, "Crista, are you ok?"

She sobbed, "I'm still human and Marvin hates me for it. Not to mention he almost killed me again!"

Tyr'ahnee compassionately asked, "Is there anything I can do?"

Crista, "I just need privacy please."

Everyone filed out leaving her all alone; only then did she cry her little heart.