For those of you who have read this chapter once already, I made some changes to Jim and Eric's conversation.

Chapter 7

That girl has done it. She made the prince fall in love with her and kiss her...

Ursula swiped the contents of her vanity shelf to the floor of her cave, making the shells containing her cosmetics shatter. She glared at herself in her mirror, her teeth bare with utter frustration. "I underestimated that little tramp! Apparently she was not as infatuated with that guard as much as I thought she was." She handled the empty shell necklace around her neck. "What can I do now? What can I do to make that girl mine and ultimately destroy her father?"

Something came to mind. "The girl is permanently human now. She could go and tell King Triton what has unfolded and he will beg her to turn Ariel back into a mermaid! But wait, that trident of his can do that as well. He will turn the girl back and will take her to Antlanica with him."

Ursula thought and thought of a plan. How will she be able to undo King Triton and take over the ocean now?

That night after the sun had gone down, Eric sat there in the massive castle living room after Ariel told him her story. They sat together on a sofa, and Ariel anxiously waited for a response from him. She told him everything, aside from her being a princess. She wanted to save that revelation for a later time, and maybe when Cadet Hawkins was present. Honestly, she just wanted to talk to the cadet and have him hear her real voice and not just read her lips. Although... she rather loved him staring at her lips whenever she spoke. She supposed that maybe at some point, he would lean in and...

"Wow, Ariel," Eric mused and she was pulled out of her thoughts, and the light from the large fire in the fireplace flickered off of his black hair.

"Yes, I know. It's a pretty crazy story, isn't it?"

"Yeah, I... I just can't believe that you did all that for me. You sacrificed your voice and your life as a mermaid... for me. Because you loved me." He took her into his arms. "Well, I already told you that I love you. Now that I know that you have loved me all along, it makes me happier than I could ever have imagined."

Ariel felt a cold rock sink in her stomach from guilt. How will she be able to tell him that she doesn't feel that way about him anymore?

Eric brought her out to face him and she met his blue eyes. "Ariel, have you heard what I planned to do with the girl who saved my life?"

Ariel has heard. She has heard from every one of the servants she has come in contact with. Aside from Cadet Hawkins. Was there a reason why he never brought it up? "Yes, I have heard."

A hopeful gleam entered Eric's blue eyes, and he took both of her hands in his and stood up from the sofa. But as soon as he did that, he knelt on one knee in front of her. Ariel gasped at knowing what he was about to do. "Ariel, I vowed to marry the girl who saved me, and even if she didn't turn out to be you, I would still ask you what I am about to ask you... Will you marry me, Ariel?"

She didn't want to break his heart. At least not yet when he was so happy. She gave him a sweet smile. "Eric, I... don't know what to say."

"Say yes, Ariel. You love me, too, and have done all that you did for me. It would only make sense that we marry."

What on earth should she say? She thought about her sea home. "Eric, this is such a grand change for me. It really has been only three days since I became human, and I am still adjusting. I somehow need to tell my family what has become of me, even though I did this partly because I needed to get away from them. While you were most of the reason," she added. "Please, allow me to talk with them before I give you an answer, alright?"

There was slight disappointment in his eyes, but they turned to understanding. "Alright. Talk with your family. That would be wise since you will never be a mermaid again."

This little tid-bit caused Ariel's heart to pinch. That's right—she'll never be a mermaid again. She'll never again swim with schools of fishes, or go looking for deep sea shells with her sisters, or go into sunken ships with Flounder to look for human artifacts. She'll never live with the merpeople again.

"Yes, you're right," she said to Eric. "I just... I'm not sure how I can speak with my family." She paused, thinking of Flounder. "Wait, maybe there is a way. Eric, tomorrow around noon, could you take me out in one of your ships?"

He came and sat next to her on the sofa, a loving look in his eyes, which made her feel uneasy. "Of course, Ariel. Anything for you."

She nodded. First thing the next morning, she'll have to find Flounder and make him go talk with her father. It will not be a happy reunion once her father sees her.

Jim walked through the long halls on the way down to his chambers. He will not be seeing these halls, these paintings, or the suits of armor ever again. He doubted that he will ever come back to this planet after he leaves to Montressor in two days. Yes, two days. Lieutenant McHillen said that this change would happen right away. Jim was only given enough time to pack all his things and make any last goodbyes that he needed to. It isn't going to be easy, though, saying goodbye to the friends he has made here, knowing that he may never see them again. Especially Eric. Jim needed to tell him about this first.

Jim stopped before descending the staircase that led to the servants' bedrooms. He turned right around and made his way up to Eric's bedroom. He knocked on the wooden door, and a "Yes?"came from the other side. "Eric, it's Jim."

Footsteps were heard, and Eric opened the door, a beaming smile on his face. Jim's heart sank like a rock in the ocean. That smile won't be there for long. "Jim!" He pulled Jim into his room only lit by the large, glowing fireplace and shut the door. Excitement gleamed in the prince's eyes. "Boy, Jim, do I have things to tell you!"

"I have some things to tell you, too, but you go first."

"Alright," Eric went and sat on his bed, and Jim stood near him. Eric leaned over and rested his elbows on his knees, and clasped his hands together. "Jim, I... I proposed to Ariel."

That sinking feelings got worse, but Jim tried not to show it. "Really? That fast, huh? What did she say?"

"She asked for some time. She said she wants to go and talk with her family first, to tell them what has happened to her. Then she'll back to me with her answer. I just hope she says yes. I mean, really, I've only known her for three days, but... it just feels like I've known her longer. I mean, since she saved my life, I feel that we have a deeper connection that can surpass any amount of time."

Jim nodded, and then sat down next to Eric on the cushiony bed. "Eric... Ariel would be insane not to accept you. I mean, she's crazy about you, and went to that sea witch because of you. Why would she say no?"

Eric gave him a surprised look. "You know her story? Has she told you?"

"Yes, she did. Remember back when you saw us talking in the garden? That's what she was telling me. I feared that she may be up to something, so I basically demanded that she tell me who she was and where she was from." Jim had to leave out the bit about him pushing her and Eric together. "I didn't believe her story at first, but after she got her voice back, I found that it was true. I mean, she wouldn't pretend that she couldn't talk all this time."

Eric nodded. "I see. So, you think that she'll say yes?"

"I think so. I'm happy for you, Eric. Ariel's a great girl." As much as it pained him to admit it, he really was happy for him.

"Thanks Jim." He clapped a hand on Jim's shoulder. "Now, what did you want to tell me? You said you had something to say."

"Yeah..." Jim stood up and ran a rand down his face. How will he be able to start this? "Eric, listen... you know about this test of mine, right? The reason that I'm here?"

"Yes, I know. It's a test you have to take in order to see if you're cut out for the Navy. Why?"

"Well... this test has taken a new turn. It turns out that... I will be completing my test elsewhere, and not here."

Eric's brows creased. "What do you mean, Jim? Are you saying that you're leaving?"

"Yes."

Jim knew that glow that radiated off of Eric would diminish. Jim's heart pricked when sadness entered his friend's eyes. "Where will you go? Hopefully not far." Jim didn't say anything to that, and Eric stood up, looked him in the face, and asked more sternly, "Jim, will you be going far away?"

Jim was surprised to feel emotion grip his throat slightly. "Yes, I am. I'm afraid I'll be going somewhere really far away. And... I don't think I'll be returning."

Eric stared at him, and he could see in the faint light from the fireplace that his eyes began to water. "You're leaving... for good. Are you being serious?"

"Yes, I am, and... Well, it turns out that I will be going back home. There is a task that my academy would like me to accomplish there, a task that I will allow me to really test my skills as a soldier and as a future commander. They believe that what I have been doing here is menial work. I need to really be tested."

Eric was silent for a moment, and Jim didn't like the frown that pulled on Eric's lips. "When will you leave?"

"In two days."

"Two days?" he exclaimed and ran a hand down his face and then planted his hands on his hips. "Gosh, I... wasn't expecting this."

"Neither was I. Lieutenant McHillen sprang this on me just today."

"And you made the decision right away to leave?"

"I believe that I need to do this, so I can truly be tested for the Navy."

"You made that decision without speaking to me, your very good friend, about it first? You had to come and tell me after? When I..." He took a large, shaky breath. "I wanted to ask you to be my right-hand man at my wedding. But I guess that's never going to happen now."

Tears stung Jim's eyes, so much was he touched by this. "Eric, I'm sorry. I just... maybe I was too selfish to agree right away without saying anything to anyone. I..." He couldn't mention Ariel, and how her and Eric's relationship is the main reason why he's leaving, with this new test being beneficial for his training at a close second.

"Well, at least you will be able to move up in the ranks," Eric said, and gulped hard. "And I guess I would have to say goodbye to you sooner or later. I should be happy for you. Congratulations, Jim."

"Thank you. It has been an honor to serve you, Eric. Really. You have made me so comfortable here, especially when I first came here and had to adjust to everything. And..." That emotion caught his throat. 'You are probably the best friend I have ever had in my life. I really am going to miss you.

Jim was shocked that he said those words, but he felt that Eric deserved to know. Jim wiped a tear from his eye with the back of his hand, and an instant after, he found himself in an embrace.

"I feel the same way, Jim," Eric said, and patted Jim's back. "You have been such a good friend and... yes, the best friend I have ever had in my life as well. Honestly, I don't know what I'm going to to do after you leave. I have thought about it before, and... who am I going to tell everything to?"

Jim patted his back as well. "How about Grimsby?"

Eric chuckled, and the two friends came out of their embrace. "Yeah, right. I think I'll just tell Max everything." They both glanced over at the shaggy mutt fast asleep in his large red pillow bed under the window. "At least, when he's conscious."

"Yeah, no kidding."

The two guys stood there for a moment, and Eric had to wipe his eyes again. "Gosh, when have I become such a crybaby?"

"I think you've always been quite the softy."

"That's not true!" He pointed to his chest and puffed it out a bit. "I'm a very manly man."

Jim snorted. "Would a manly man turn away from a girl when he was about to kiss her?"

"Hey, at least I did kissed her eventually. And I have to say, I think that's the smartest thing I've ever done in my life. Now... I'm just waiting for her answer to my proposal."

Jim smacked Eric's arm. "Don't sweat it, alright? She'll say yes."

Eric nodded. "Right, well... this has been quite the day." He gave Jim a look. "You'll write to me, right? You better, Jim Hawkins."

Jim doubted that he'll be able to send letters, but he could use the transmitter that his mother was apparently given to communicate with Lieutenant McHillen. "Letters may be a bit difficult, but I'll try to send you messages in any way that I can."

"Why would sending letters be difficult?"

What excuse could he come up with? He planned to tell Eric everything when his six months were up, but now... things have changed. He might as well tell him now. "Yeah, it would. Listen..." This is going to be hard to say. "You know how everyone has said that I am from America? Well... that's not really true. I'm from a place that is a bit unbelievable, at least to people here."

Eric creased his brows. "Where are you from, then? What place wouldn't let you send letters?"

"It's not that it doesn't let me send letters, the letters would just never get here unless... well, unless a special transportation device is used."

"I'm not following."

He should just say it. "Eric, I'm from a different planet, and in the future. I was really sent here, yes, for my test to graduate into the Navy, but... into the Interstellar Navy. And my academy is called the Interstellar Academy. Where I'm from, we travel to different planets and sail in ships not on the ocean, but through the skies. People like me train to be a captain of one of those ships, or a general to a interstellar army—that's what I want to do eventually. I guess I just thought you needed to know this before I left. It killed me to not tell you all this time."

Eric sat back down on his bed and covered his mouth with his hand, and he shook his head back an forth. Jim knew that face. "Eric, I know I should have said something to you earlier, but Lieutenant McHillen instructed me not to say a word about where I was really from."

Eric removed his hand from his mouth. "Lieutenant McHillen knows about this? Where you're really from, and why you're really here?"

"Yes, he's the only one, he... wait. You believe me?"

He stood up again and met Jim's eyes. "Well, Ariel is a mermaid and is from an undersea city. Why can't you be from a different planet in the future?"

Jim embraced Eric again, relief coursing through every vein of his body. "Thank you for believing me. You're awesome."

Eric patted his back. "Hey, you are, too. I mean, a different planet? How on earth did you get here?"

Jim released him. "Well... like I said. It's a special transportation device. It's called a portal. I was assigned to come here when I was at the academy, and stepped through a portal to get here. They didn't tell me that I was going into the past as well. That was a bit of a surprise."

"How far into the past?"

"I don't know the exact amount of years, but... a few hundred."

Eric's eyes widened. "Whoa!"

"Yeah, tell me about it. I was a bit taken aback when I couldn't find a single bit of technology here. Your planet is really behind the times."

"Technology?"

"Yeah... nevermind. You'll find out what it is. Maybe."

Eric nudged Jim and gave him a sly look. "So, you're a few hundred years older than I am instead of three. Maybe you're an old geezer after all."

He punched him in the arm. "Hey!" They both laughed and Jim checked his pocket watch. "Well, I should go to bed. I need to start packing tomorrow."

"Right. Well... goodnight, Jim."

"Goodnight, Eric. And thanks again for believing me. Don't tell anyone about this, alright?"

"I promise. And I'm just curious... what's the name of the planet you're from?"

"Montressor. 'Night."

Jim turned and left the room. Once out into the hallway, he leaned against the wall near a painting depicting an angry ocean, with waves swallowing a massive ship. Telling Eric about where he's really from was a lot easier than he expected. Good thing Ariel revealed her story so Eric could have a more open mind. But it was difficult telling him that he's leaving. He knew that saying goodbye to Eric was going to be hard, but he didn't realize just how difficult it would be. He took a large breath to keep his emotions at bay, remembering Eric telling him that he wanted Jim to be his best man.

Morph suddenly came out of his pocket, shifted into Jim's head, and looked at him with large, teary eyes. Suddenly, the Jim-head burst into tears and melted into Jim's hands.

"Hey, Morph, I'll be alright. I just... I'm never good with saying goodbye." He recalled saying goodbye to Silver, and how he had collapsed into the boat after the cyborg left and balled like a baby as he held the jewels he gave him. "Yeah... I've never been good at saying goodbye to friends. I hate to find out what it will be like when I leave in a couple days. The waterworks will be going for sure, especially now that Eric knows where I'm really going."

The blob turned back to normal, and Jim leaned off the wall and commenced walking down the hallway. He passed the balcony that he had been on when he saw Eric kiss Ariel. He passed the glass doors, but stopped. He took a few steps back and saw someone standing on the balcony. It was Ariel. She had her back to him, and her red hair flowed down passed her waist. Morph appeared in Jim's line of sight and looked from him to Ariel several times.

"I have plenty of time to say goodbye to her, Morph. Plus, she's the main reason why I'm leaving anyway. It wouldn't do me any good to talk to her now." He caught movement in his vision, and he noticed that Ariel had turned herself around so he could see her side profile. She was wearing a blue dress that went straight down to the balcony floor, and didn't poof out like that pink one she had. Was it a nightgown? It looked too fancy for a nightgown, and it hugged her tiny waist, the sight of which caused heat to travel up Jim's neck. Morph nudged his face.

"Okay, okay, Morph, I'll talk to her. But only for a few minutes. I really have to get to bed."

Morph put himself in Jim's jacket again and Jim opened the door to the balcony. Ariel instantly saw him and her eyes widened in the low light. The only light out there was the light from the white moon and twinkling stars. "Cadet Hawkins!"

How bizarre it was to hear her voice, but he liked it. He chuckled. "I guess I'll have to give my lip-reading skills a break, huh? How does it feel to be able to talk again?"

"More wonderful than I could imagine."

Jim leaned against the ledge of the stone balcony and heard the waves crashing the shore below. A cool wind blew slightly. "I admit that lip-reading isn't the easiest of skills. It makes me thankful that this story of yours was actually true."

Her eyes widened and she turned away from him and faced the sea. "You... saw it all happen. When Eric..."

"When Eric kissed you? Yeah, I saw it happen. I made it happen in the first place, remember? I said I would help you."

Her mouth opened and she stared at him. "You... you made him pull me out to the beach and kiss me?"

Jim couldn't get over how enchanting Ariel's voice was. It made his insides tumble. "Well... I didn't make him do anything. I just... well, I just told him the truth. I told him you're crazy about him, so why does he need to hold back or be nervous?"

That stare lingered, and disbelief etched her eyes. "You told him that I was crazy about him?"

"Yeah, I... wait. Aren't you? Isn't that the whole reason why you came here? Why you became human in the first place?"

She turned to face the sea again. "Yes, that was the reason to begin with. In fact, there were a couple of reasons. I wanted to be with Eric, and I wanted to prove to my father that humans are not bad. I wanted him to see that I was serious about them. I have told you that I collected human things. I have been doing that since I was young, but in secret. My father has always told me and my six sisters to not go to the surface because he didn't trust humans. He thinks that humans are... monsters."

Utterly fascinated by the rest of her story, Jim stood next to her and leaned against the railing. "So... you did all this to prove that human's aren't as bad as he thought?"

"Yes, in a way. You see, my mother was killed by humans, but by accident. Some men on a ship were fishing and threw a spear into the water and accidentally struck my mother's tail. She didn't live through her injuries."

His heart ached for her, and he recalled how horrible it was that his own father left. He didn't die as far as he knew, but him leaving hurt him horribly. "I'm so sorry, Ariel... I guess I can understand why your father wanted to keep you and your family away from the surface—he didn't want any of you hurt."

"Yes, but it went incredibly out of hand. He told the whole kingdom of Atlantica and the surrounding merkingdoms to stay away from the surface, and he especially forbade any contact with humans or anything that has to do with them." She snickered. "But me? I was fascinated by them and their things. I always explored old shipwrecks just to find things that belonged to humans, and went to the surface without my father knowing."

Jim smirked and gave her a sly look. "You were a bit of a rebel, huh?"

She smiled in response. "I suppose I was."

"I can't see you as the rebel type, though."

"Oh, I was. I had a reputation for it."

"I guess we learn something new every day. Now me..." He pointed to his chest. "I was a huge trouble-maker before I went into the academy. When I was a teenager, I almost got put into juvenile hall three times for..." He almost said lunar surfing, but he knew people here didn't have that. "Well, let's just say I broke some laws."

"What's juvenile hall?"

Oh, she wouldn't know what that is, would she, considering she grew up underwater? "It's a place where they send troubled kids, and they're to stay there to learn their lesson. I guess it's like a prison for kids."

Ariel nodded. "Hm. I guess I would be put into juvenile hall many times. I broke so many of my father's ridiculous rules. He was controlling to a fault and never let me have any fun. I made my own fun by collecting human things, going to the surface with my fish friend Flounder, missing singing rehearsals... a bunch of things. I was a huge headache to my father."

"I can relate—my mom is the controlling type, and I felt like I had to go out and create my own fun, even if that got me into a lot of trouble." There was a small bit of detail that didn't make a lot of sense in his head. "Hold on, so... you said that your dad told your whole underwater kingdom to stay away from the surface? He had the power to do that?"

"Um..." She pursed her lips together, and Jim recalled the stories that he has heard about the merpeople, that they were ruled by one King Triton. Jim mouth dropped open.

"No way..." Jim mused, and his pulse started to rise with both excitement at finding this out, and at the shock that was starting to shoot through his system. "Your father is King Triton?!"

She nodded silently and Jim let out a long breath. He couldn't believe this! All this time, the girl who washed up on the beach in a tattered sail has been a princess! He fell for a mermaid princess! Jim rubbed a hand down his face, attempting to take all of this in. "Wow... I definitely wasn't expecting that one. Does Eric know this?"

"No, he doesn't. I told him my story, I just left out the bit about me being a princess."

"Don't you think he should know, though, since he wants to marry you and all?" His and Eric's conversation came to mind. "I talked to Eric a little bit ago. He said that you told him you needed to talk to your family about it first. From what you said about your father, there's no way that he'll agree to let you marry a human."

"I know, I just want to show him that I'm serious about humans. Eric's not the reason for my doing this anymore."

She gasped and covered her mouth. Jim stared at her, just as surprised that she revealed that. "Eric isn't the reason? I thought you were crazy about the guy."

"Not anymore. He was kind to me and loves me, yes, but... I don't love him like I did when I first went to Ursula and became human." She shook her head. "I became so selfish, using him to break the curse I was under. I just wanted to stay human so badly because..." She trailed off and she met his gaze. "I guess my desires went elsewhere."

He tried to read the look in her eyes, and the thought that came to him startled him to his bones. That couldn't be possible. No. No way. What has he been doing all this time, then, trying to push them together? He shook his head. He needed to revert the conversation. He should tell her about the unexpected twist to his test. He wanted to tell her anyway. "Ariel, there's something you need to know about me, too. Do you know about this test that I'm taking currently? The whole reason why I'm here?"

She seemed surprised at the sudden question, and cleared her throat. Even in the low light, Jim noticed her cheeks fill with flaming pink. "Um, I think I heard about it."

"Well, I'm taking a test that will determine if I can graduate from the academy and enter into the Navy. That's why I'm here, working as a guard. But... things have changed." He took a breath before revealing his news to her. "While I was supposed to be here for another four months, I have been re-assigned. I will be going back to where I'm from to complete my test."

The hurt that suddenly entered Ariel's eyes was unmistakable. "You're... leaving? When?"

"In two days."

Ariel turned away from him and stared out at the ocean, with her fingers gripping the edge of the railing tightly. "No..." she muttered, and Jim's heart plummeted. He noticed her chest move up and down heavily. "No, not when..." She faced him suddenly and said with emotion, "You can't go, Cadet Hawkins! Can't you see that you're the reason why my feelings changed about Eric? Why I have the desire to reject his proposal to me?"

Jim stared at her stunned, not believing that was actually true. She fell out of love with Eric because of... him?

"Ariel, I..." He started, but he couldn't finish since his tongue wouldn't cooperate. His pulse rose alarmingly as she took a step closer to him, and he could see her blue eyes shine in the moonlight. She leaned in closer to him and he stared at her inviting pink lips. His heart was hammering out of control inside of him, and he found himself leaning in as well, drawn to that mouth of hers...

No, he shouldn't do this. He can't do this to Eric, even if Ariel didn't love him. Jim leaned back and took a step away from her. Hurt started to fill her features. "Ariel..." he said wearily. "I have to go. My time in this castle is up. I have to go home."

He noticed her chin quiver, and he had the urge to take her and kiss her, like he was about to a second ago. "Where?" she muttered. "I have wondered the whole time I have known you." She met his eyes, and this time, there really were tears in hers. "You owe me that much since I told you everything about me."

Jim nodded. There really was no point in keeping this from her, and it would only be fair. Plus, Eric already knows. "I'm not from America like everyone has said. I'm from a place far more unbelievable than an undersea city." He took a breath through his nose before he revealed, "I'm from a different planet, one called Montressor. It's not in this solar system—it's not even in this time. I'm from hundreds of years into the future. I came here through a portal and am actually taking a test for a space academy so I can hopefully get into the Interstellar Navy. I was called home because I need to test my skills farther. Ariel... I don't think I'm ever going to come back."

She stared at him with a disbelieving look in her eyes. A tear suddenly fell from one of them. "You're never coming back?"

"I don't think I will be."

She shook her head and turned away from him, and he stared at her red hair on the back of her head. "I can't believe this... I wanted to know about you, now... I wish I never asked."

Jim didn't know what to do, so he just muttered, "I'm sorry, Ariel."

She didn't say anything. Jim figured the best thing to do now is leave. His time on this planet is done, and he's moving on. Although it is clear now that Ariel has feelings for him, and he has feelings for her, he can't do anything. No matter how much he ached to.

"Goodnight, Ariel," he said and promptly left the balcony. He cantered through the hallways and made it down to his chambers. He took his jacket off and slammed it on the wooden floor, and Morph flew out of it. Jim sat on his bed and put his face in his hands.

"I made a horrible mistake in deciding to leave, Morph," he said through his hands. "But now it's too late. The time for my departure is set and I have to leave."

"But, but, but..." Morph said in his little voice. He changed into Jim coming up to and embracing Ariel.

"I can't respond to her, Morph, even if we like each other. It's not an option anymore. And even if I wasn't leaving, it still wouldn't be because, one, Eric's in love with her and I don't want to hurt him; and two, she's a mermaid princess and I'm just a troubled guy who did nothing but get into trouble and bring his mother to tears with stress." He took in and let out a hefty breath, trying to control his emotion. "Ariel belongs with Eric. After I leave, she can forget me and she can remember her feelings for Eric and they can get married. And I guess it's a good thing that I won't be his best man since it'll kill me to watch them get married."

Morph changed back into himself and gave Jim a sad look, jutting out his lower lip. Jim forced himself to smile at his little friend. "Morph, I'll be alright. Once I get back home, I'll get started on the rest of my test. I'll be too busy finding Silver to think about Ariel and Eric, and everything that has happened here. Everything's going to be fine."

Morph shook his blob head. He knew just as well as Jim did that Jim was in denial. Jim wanted more than anything to go and find Ariel and embrace her and kiss her like he desperately desires, but he can't. He has to let it all go... at least he has to try. His entrance to the Interstellar Navy depends on it.