Well, after a very short Chapter 6, here's Chapter 7 without delay! LOL! Anyways, I hope you enjoy it and it came out alright and nothing's dragging or being rushed or anything...LOL! Anyways, I'd really appreciate if everyone would read and review and everything! Thanks! Well, here's Chapter 7! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I forgot this last time, but I don't own OS or anything...

Sprawled in her seat, legs flung over the left arm of the throne while her lower back leaned against the right arm, Princess Alliah's mind was occupied with thoughts. Her long silky and pearly hair was down and wavy, swaying slightly against the right outside of the throne. Eyes a mix of shades of blue and purple, there was an odd glisten to them as she tugged violently at a piece of clothe with her hands, which bore recently painted nails, manicured to perfection.
The large door opened to the room and Alliah immediately stood up straight, eyes darting to the entrance. Realizing it was just her regular servant, she slumped back in her seat. "Oh, it's you." She stated bluntly. "Well, where is he?" She raised an eyebrow.
"He is coming, your highness. I sent one of the temporaries for this year's Council meeting."
"Good." The servant, after a couple moments of consideration, spoke up.
"Um…Princess Alliah, don't you think that, well, there are other higher priorities to concern yourself with at the moment? I mean, with the Council being held here this year? I mean, the first hearing is in a half and hour. I think it might be best that you forget about the whole r-" Alliah cut him off.
"I did not ask for your advice," she snapped. Calming slightly, she allowed a smile to appear upon her face. "I'm sorry. You must forgive me, my emotions are running a bit high, but you can understand of course. It has been two years since-" Her voice was rising in fervor and her she could feel herself talking through gritted teeth. Hand clenching around the clothe she was tugging at, she threw it to the ground. "Just bring him here! Now!"
"Yes, your highness. Right away." The servant staggered out of the room leaving Alliah alone. She slumped back into the chair and began to bob her left leg impatiently. So Gene, she thought, you finally decided to pay me a visit.

Jim was getting a nervous feeling growing in the pit of his stomach as he and his friends followed the very quiet servant to their destination. Ace and Aisha walked and conversed right behind the girl, talking and laughing as loud as they pleased without giving much consideration to anybody around them. Following them was an aggravated Ricilla, arms crossed and mouth done up in a bitter pout. Then came Gene, Jim, and Melfina a distance away from them. Finally, Suzuka trailed, obviously in deep thought and not pleased with the way things were going.
"Gene," Jim whispered to his red-headed friend, "I've got a bad feeling about this." Gene turned to him with a confident smile.
"A bad feeling? How can you have a bad feeling when the Princess of Skyla thinks I'm wonderful?" He questioned.
"We don't know if she thinks that; she just remembers you." Jim pointed out, skeptically.
"Well, she wants to see me, doesn't she?" Jim shrugged at this.
"I don't know. I've still got a bad feeling. Besides," he added, "What about Melfina?" At this, Gene turned to look at Melfina, who had been staring at them, listening to their conversation. Instantly, she turned pink, turned away, and bowed her head, gazing at her feet as she walked.
"What about her?" Gene finally said, but his voice sounded a bit awkard as he spoke.
"Well…er, never mind I guess." Jim sighed and stared at the floor himself. Suddenly, the servant girl came to a stop in front of large elegant doors. Besides them stood an older guard, in his forties, eyeing the visitors.
"You can wait here." she told them. "I'll be back in a couple of moments." Then she escaped into the room, closing the massive doors behind her with an echoing thud.
"Great, now we have to wait again." Gene complained, slumping against a wall.
"Gene, Gene, Gene. You must learn to have patience. After all, it is a virtue." Ace patronized with an arrogant grin. Gene sneered at his employer, but didn't say anything. There was a few moments of silence when Ricilla sighed, annoyed. She began to gesture elaborately, trying to communicate in sign language.
"What is it?" Ace questioned, apparently not amused. Again attempting again to express herself with just her arms and facial expressions, she finally let her arms fall to her sides. She then lifted her right arm and pointed to her throat. "You voice?" he laughed. "No. I don't think so." Groaning, she stomped her foot to the ground, very frustrated. "Just stand quietly over there, please. I'll give you your privilege to speak soon enough, but right now I can't risk it." Ricilla did as she was told, heading towards where Ace indicated.
"Something's wrong." Suzuka finally blurted out and all eyes turned to her.
"What could be wrong?" Gene asked.
"A lot." Before Gene could speak again, the guard at the door spoke up.
"Just who are the lot of you, anyway?"
"This is an old friend of Alliah's," Ace explained, gesturing towards Gene.
"Gene Starwind," He introduced himself, extending his hand. The man's eyes widened.
"Gene Star-" He began, but interrupted himself to give an urgent warning. "You've got to get out of here! Now! I don't know what would possess you to ever come see her, but if you care at all about your lives you'd just get out of here!" They all looked at one another puzzled.
"What?" Gene finally choked out, very confused, when a young girl's voice called out.
"Dear Claverion, who are all these guests?" She asked kindly, her tone sweet and gentle. The girl of eleven years or so had walked over with grace and curiosity. Her golden blonde hair was tied back in a braid and extended towards her waist, bangs falling freely across her forehead. With lilac eyes she studied the visitors with interest, a caring smile on her face. Who is that, Jim wondered gazing at her with entranced eyes.
"Oh, Maralee! Thank goodness you're here! Tell them to leave at once before that servant comes back to bring them in to see Alliah!" Maralee giggled.
"Now, why on earth would I send them away?"
"Because he's Gene Starwind!" Claverion whispered Gene's name, which suddenly made his confusion melt into nervousness. Maralee place her hands to her mouth, her original friendly expression turning into one of worry and dread.
"Oh, Claverion is absolutely right! You must get out of here at once! If Alliah-" She never got the chance to finish for the servant girl opened the throne room's door and poked her head out into the hallway.
"She's ready to see you." When she saw nobody moving, she added. "Now."
"Yes, right, of course." Ace let out a weak chuckle. "Let's go everybody." He gestured to them to follow, pushing past Gene and muttering, "Let's see what mess Gene got us into now." The rest followed slowly, all except Aisha, who was anxious to see one of Gene's ex-girlfriends and what would ensue after their reunion. Jim followed the slowest, having trouble detaching his eyes from the concerned Maralee. However, eventually she noticed him staring at her, and turned bright pink with surprise and she ran off, uncomfortable and helpless. Jim, growing beat red, immediately scurried into the throne room, ready to face whatever was coming than embarrassment. As he entered, he could see Claverion standing there with his head bowed; he was saying a silent prayer for them.

"So Gene Starwind finally decided to show himself after two long years." Alliah stated, coming down from her throne to face him, guards lining the walls with pity in their eyes. Just act cool, Gene told himself. Well, it would be easier to act cool if I knew what the hell was going on.
"Two years? Why, it almost seems like yesterday and…er…you look great!" Gene managed a nervous smile and he could sense Ace visibly grimacing while Suzaka rolled her eyes and Aisha snickered.
"Yes, doesn't it?" She sneered, speaking through clenched teeth.
"So, how have you been?" he asked, trying to read her intentions. All he could tell was that her eyes, locked on him, seemed to be filled with insane fervor.
"Waiting."
"Waiting?" Gene questioned.
"Enough of this!" Ace finally exclaimed. "What in the hell is going on here? I demand to know!"
"You? Who are you? One of this low life's friends, no doubt!" Ace looked disgusted.
"Hardly," he replied.
"That's right!" Aisha declared. "You are talking to the grandson of the rich-" Ace immediately clasped his hand upon her mouth and smiled weakly.
"Richmonds. Grandson of the Richmonds." He stated quickly, Aisha pulling away from him annoyed. Alliah looked at them perturbed and confused.
"The Richmonds? Who the hell are they?"
"Farmers. From Rifi. Simple people really…" He trailed off, now stepping back a bit as Suzuka sent him a suspicious glare.
"Figures Gene "the scumbag" Starwind would be hanging out with such commoners!" Alliah exclaimed.
"I am not a commoner! I'm a Ctarl-Ctarl!" Aisha defendend herself.
"I don't care! Guards! Arrest them all!"
"Arrest us?" Ace choked out. "What for?"
"Because I said so!" The guards, however, seemed reluctant, to Gene's relief.
"Listen," he finally looked up, "I really don't know what you problem is but-" Gene realized after the words escaped his mouth that he shouldn't have said anything.
"My problem? You want to know what my problem is?" She shrieked. "I'll tell you what my problem is! My problem is that you told me you loved me! You TOLD me! And then what? You just leave!" Gene frowned, trying his best to remember.
"I…did…are you sure I was…sober at the time?"
"YES! We were going to be married! It was going to be such a beautiful wedding and then you had to just leave me! LEAVE ME! The Princess of Skyla!"
Jim stared at his friend, dumbfounded. Married?, he mouthed. Gene shrugged, absolutely confused. Although he was unsure whether or not he told the girl he loved her in order to have made advancements with her, he was definite that he would never consent to marriage no matter how much alcohol he consumed.
"And now, you just come back to-" Suddenly, Alliah stopped and looked at him, her rage melting away. A wide smile appeared across her face. "Oh, Gene!" She exclaimed warmly, running to him and wrapping her arms around him. Gene was taken back. "I knew you'd come back!"
"What?" He choked out through her tight grip.
"To Marry me, of course! Mother kept telling me to move on-I had plenty of suitors-but my love is only for you Gene! That one week we spent together had been the happiest of my life! And now! Now we're going to get married! Finally!" She was crying tears of joy. "Oh Gene, I love you!" At this, Aisha broke out into hysterics of laughter. Alliah turned to her, the rage slighty returning to her eyes. "What is so funny?"
"Well, it's going to be hard for you guys to get married when Gene's got a thing for Melfina!" Melfina blushed, startled and embarrassed, and immediately averted her eyes to the ground. Suzuka looked annoyed, shaking her head.
"Very clever of you, Aisha." she mumbled.
"What?" Aisha asked. "What?"
"Melfina!" Alliah exclaimed, breaking apart from him and growing cold very quickly. "Who is Melfina?"
"Nobody…" Gene trailed off, but Alliah was unimpressed.
"It's one of these-things! Which one?" She stared at all four girls; Suzuka who was more disgusted than usual, the embarrassed Melfina, Ricilla, who had looked un-amused and perturbed by the groups lack of intelligence, and Aisha, loud and obnoxious as usual. "It's not that dumb Ctarl-Ctarl, is it?"
"Hey!"
"It's her!" Alliah finally accurately guessed, grabbing Melfina tightly by the arm and pulling her towards her. Melfina let out a whimper. "I should have known."
Gene moved quickly, pulling Alliah away from Melfina. "Don't touch her." Alliah let out a frustrated shriek.
"That's it! THAT IS IT!!! I have had enough! Arrest them! Arrest them all! Gene Starwind will pay for all he's done to me!" The guards kind of shuffled, not very eager and expressing much sympathy in their faces. "NOW!" She screamed, which was enough to get them motivated.
"Fine, if she's going to be that way, then let's do this!" He gave Aisha and Suzuka nod, both ready to do combat. However, Ace didn't seem all that pleased.
"Just great! I wanted to remain discreet, and look at what you've gotten me into!"
"Well, you're just going to have to deal." Gene said with a shrug as the dozen of so guards came towards them.
"We're really sorry about this," One guard told Gene as he ventured towards him.
"I am too." Gene stated, and took the man out with one quick punch.
"I'm not!" Aisha declared, throwing one guard across the room, knocking out another one in the process.
"You," Ace turned to Ricilla, "Fight. Not us, though. The Skyla guards." Ricilla rolled her eyes, very apathetically, and went threw the motions of battle without really caring too much either way.
"What about you?" Gene asked him, taking out another guard, "Can't you do something yourself?"
"Like what?"
"Like anything! We're kind of outnumbered here!"
"Well, I'm kind of unskilled in the fighting department here." Gene sighed annoyed and went back to work, noticing that with him, Suzuka, and Aisha, along with Ricilla's apathetic assistance, that they really didn't need an extra hand to fend off Alliah's sympathizing defense.
Alliah let out a shriek. "You IDIOTS! Arrest him, beat him, kill him! I don't care! Just get GENE STARWIND!"
"What's…er…going on in here…?" came Clavieron's voice from the entrance.
"You! Get me the UMF, NOW!"
"But-"
"GO!" Clavieron did as he was told as Suzuka took out the last guard with her wooden sword.
"Well," Gene put on his cocky grin, "That was easy enough." Alliah stared at him enraged.
"I'll kill you myself if I have to!" she screamed and dived at him, knocking him to the ground and clawing him with her nails. Aisha easily picked her up by her neck and tossed her to the side, herself letting out a groan. All of a sudden, the doors to the throne room flung open, and their stood the Universal Military Forces, dressed in their best and looking a lot more professional and deadly than Alliah's guards had. They lined up and held their guns to their enemy.
"Nobody move." stated a twenty one year old female with long dark hair. "I am First Lieutenant Kyashi Macabi and you are under arrest. You will be taken to the prison at York Base until you are given a hearing. Do you understand?" Aisha looked ready to take on the entire force of twenty or more, but Gene sent her a look that told her to back down. Suzuka, sensibley seemed to understand. There was no way they could take on a regiment of the Universal Military Forces.

Gene, Ace, and Jim were contained in one cell, while Aisha, Suzuka, Ricilla, and Melfina were in the one opposite, the rest of the cells in the well-lit corridor vacant. They were being held at York Base-the name of the neighboring Universal Military Forces base-taken their by the 11th regiment led by the commanding Lieutenant Macabi. She had shown them little, if any sympathy, her job being her job. However, she had left them now to make a full report for Colonel Drake something or other and the group had reduced to bickering with one another.
"This is just great!" Ace exclaimed, "The whole point was to get away with this WITHOUT being arrested!"
"It's not my fault she was a psycopath," Gene stated.
"Well, it is your fault you didn't remember her."
"How was I supposed to? It was, according to her, a one week fling!"
"She seems pretty demented if you ask me." Aisha commented bluntly.
"And why don't you yell at her, huh?" Gene demanded in reference to Aisha, turning to Ace.
"Well-I-" He stammered.
"Well…? If she hadn't opened her big mouth we could have just strung her along!"
"Hey!" Aisha exclaimed. "It's not my fault!"
"She's absolutely right. I think stringing her along would have made things a lot worse."
"Well," Suzuka spoke up, "You could have just told her you were a Picard."
"Yeah, sure, that'd be great," Ace sneered sarcastically, "Then, when we kid-I mean, do what we came here to do, I ruin not only my reputation, but my family's as well. I don't think so."
"I see."
"Listen, I'm in charge around here, got it?" Ace stated, but Gene let out a laugh.
"Not in here your not. It's survival of the fittest, remember? And I do recall you saying something about being unskilled in the fighting department."
"I'm still paying you."
"In here you're not."
"Well, we're not going to be in here forever!" Ace exclaimed.
"Ace is right, Gene!" Aisha spoke up. "We've got to think optimistically!"
"I'm hungry." Jim said from where he sat in the corner.
"Now's not a time to think about food, Jim!" Gene snapped.
"Easy for you to say! You're the one who got us into this mess!"
"So, now you're siding with him too?" Gene gestured towards Ace.
"No. Maybe. I don't know!"
"This is ridiculous." Suzuka replied. "If only I had my sword."
"Doesn't help us now, does it?" Ace stated.
"I suppose it doesn't." Suzuka looked irritated.
"Maybe I can bend the bars." Aisha suggested. She attempted to do so before anybody was given a chance to respond, but as soon as her hands touched the bars she was shocked and sent flying into the wall behind her.
"I could've warned you," Jim said with a frown.
"And you did a great job doing so." Gene stated.
"Well, well-just shut up, ok?" Jim crossed his arms.
"And you did a great job being Mr. Charismatic, didn't you?" Ace shot back in Jim's defense. "I mean, where did you meet the nut job, anyways?"
"She's not a nut job!" Gene exclaimed without thinking. "I mean, I got you where you wanted, right? This is where that private will be. So all we've got to do is figure a way out of here and find him and then get the hell out of here."
"Oh, you make it sound so easy." Ace scoffed, "Aisha can't even break the bars."
"There's more ways to solve things than with Aisha's strength." Suzaka pointed out.
"So do you've got a bright idea?" Ace questioned. Suzuka didn't reply. "Figures as much."
"Hey, leave her alone." Gene now said. "She knew there was something up with you from the beginning."
"Up with me?" Ace grew defensive. "There's nothing up with me!"
"I'm so sure," Gene began, "I just bet-"
"Can we all please stop fighting?!" Melfina spoke up. Ricilla, still unable to speak and seemingly very exasperated by the whole squabbling, clapped vigorously. "Thank you." Melfina said kindly to Ricilla. "I really think we should try to work together. Maybe if we all just calm down we'll just-" Unexpectedly, the door at the end of the short hallway opened.
"Don't worry," came a male's voice, "I'll take care of it."
"Really?" another male's voice replied, "You don't mind? I mean, I'll only be a few minutes and-"
"I don't mind." the other answered pleasantly.
"Ok, thanks a bunch!" The second one answered, and apparently left. The first one then closed the door behind him, walking down the hall.
"I wonder who that is," Aisha said.
"Probably a soldier checking things out." Ace explained.
"Hey," Gene whispered, "Maybe we can get some information out of him."
"It's worth a try, I guess." Jim agreed. The soldier ventured towards their cells, humming to himself.
"Hello, everybody." He greeted them, warmly. "Just checking up on things."
"We're fine." Suzuka replied curtly.
"That's good." he stated, then turned to Jim. "Oh yeah! She told me to give you this." He handed him some food threw the bars.
"Hey, thanks!" Jim exclaimed, sinking his teeth into his newly received meal.
"What about the rest of us?" Aisha demanded. The soldier frowned.
"Gee, she didn't say anything about that…"
"She?" Suzuka inquired.
"Oh, Kyashi."
"Oh, her." Gene mumbled, remembering the Lieutenant with bitterness. She had been, possible, almost as conceited as Gene and Ace bother were, but she had out did both of them with grace and ease. "Figures she'd forget about the rest of us."
"Well, she probably did just forget-not intentionally or anything. She was just concerned because he was just a kid."
"Hey!" Jim threw his food aside. "I'm not just a kid!" Gene laughed.
"Well, I'm just here to check things out. See, my friend was on duty here, but he needed to run and do something, so I'm just filling in for a few minutes." He grinned.
"That's great," Ace muttered sarcastically, Gene elbowing him.
"Be nice," he whispered to him. Ace rolled his eyes.
"Anyways, I was going to stop by because, as I said, Kyashi wanted me to drop off some food for him." the soldier went on, oblivious to Ace's sarcasm.
"So, what are you?" Aisha asked.
"Huh?"
"Well, you're obviously below Kyashi right?" Ace stepped in.
"Below?"
"In ranking. She's a lieutenant, right?"
"Oh, yes, she is! A first lieutenant. But, she's going to be Four Star General, though. She'll be head of the UMF, I'm sure."
"But isn't Roger Douglas the head?" Melfina asked.
"Yeah…" the soldier trailed off awkwardly, smile diminishing from his face for the first time.
"He isn't the most likeable of people, is he?" Gene stated.
"Oh no! I like him; I like everybody!" They stared at the soldier.
"Everybody? That's a little impossible, don't you think?" Jim questioned.
"Why?"
"If you ask me, this guy's got a few screws loose." Ace mumbled to Gene with a laugh.
"At least he's nice enough." Gene pointed out, and then turned to the man. "Are you really a soldier? Here?"
"Oh, yeah. I'm a private-but not for long."
"How come?" Melfina asked. The soldier grinned.
"I'm getting married."
"Somebody would actually marry you?" He nodded. "But you're, like a nutcase!"
"Aisha!" Gene hissed.
"Well, I don't think anybody's really a nutcase…" he trailed off and there was silence. "Anyway, I'll get you all something to eat, if you'd like."
"Really?!" Aisha perked up. "Thanks!"
"No problem." His grin grew wider. "I like doing things to help other people. I'll just go wait outside for my friend to get back, and then I'll go get you all something."
"Wow, this guy's great!" Aisha exclaimed as the soldier turned to go.
"Wait!" Gene called.
"Yes?"
"Could you tell us if you know a Private Jeri Wilter? He should be here somewhere on this base." The man smiled and walked back to them.
"I'm Jeri Wilter!" He then corrected himself with much heartiness, "Actually, I'm Jeri Patrick Wilter." Gene's mouth dropped open, and all but Ace seemed a bit shocked. Ace, however, had an expression of sudden realization spread across his face.
"Of course!" he talked to himself, "Of course! I should have seen it."
"Did Kyashi tell you about me? I bet Kyashi told you. Wow, you look surprise! I guess I don't really seem like her type, huh?"
"Type?" Suzuka questioned.
"Well, didn't she tell you? We're getting married! In TWO weeks!" There was excitement in his eyes.
"That's wonderful," Melfina spoke up first, "Congratulations."
"Thanks!" Jeri exclaimed. "Well, I'll go get you your food now." He gave a wave, then turned again and left them all alone to discuss what they had just discovered.