Run, Baby, Run

by EquineFever-Forever

Four years. That's how long it had been since Lance and Ilana had returned home. Four years since Modula's fall, and the resurrection of Galaluna. They knew what they wanted for their future, but weren't quite sure how to get it. What they didn't know was that it would end up coming down to one major decision, at the heart of which was a simple question, "Am I enough for you?"

10. Chapter 10

Author's Note:

Alright; we're finally back with chapter 10 of Run, Baby, Run! Again, many apologies that it's taken me so long to get a new chapter to you all. After All These Years had my full attention in the summer and early fall, and, to be honest, I was experiencing some writer's block with this story. I was struggling with how I wanted the sequence of events to play out exactly, but I've got most everything ironed out in my mind now, and I think you'll all like it!

Okie dokie, on with the show! It's so good to be back with you all!

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Sym-Bionic Titan. All credit goes to Genndy Tartakovsky. I only claim credit for my own OCs.

The next morning, Lance woke before Ilana so he could sneak back out of the palace during the guard's shift change at 5:00 a.m.

Leaving his love with a kiss on the forehead, and a note telling her he'd make sure to come and see her before dinner, he managed to climb down the side of the palace wall, and hightail it back to the barracks without anyone seeing him.

He knew what his first step in getting support had to be, which meant he needed to pay his lieutenant general friend a visit.

Knocking on Baron's door, he prayed that the general was alone. The last thing he wanted to do was walk in on another…private encounter.

Fortunately, he was in luck this morning. Baron opened the door, dressed in his combat boots, cargo pants, and tank-top; wiping his face with a towel. He seemed to be finishing getting ready for the day, and heading out to the training area for his morning workout. It was fortunate he was still home. "Lance? What on earth are you doing here at this hour?"

The young general gave his older counterpart a small smile in greeting. "Hey Baron. Sorry to drop by so early, but I'd appreciate a few minutes of your time regarding a…private matter."

Baron's puzzled expression sobered immediately as he nodded once, and moved to let his commanding officer in.

Lance walked through the threshold, and the lieutenant general closed the door behind them. Turning to his raven-haired friend, he raised a curious eyebrow. "Is this about you and Ilana?" he asked.

Lance nodded once as Baron motioned for him to take a seat. Getting comfortable on two office chairs, the two men sat facing each other; elbows on their knees, and hands clasped together in front of them. Lance found Baron's eyes as he spoke; his gaze fixed on the older man. "I was wondering if you knew how many of our military personnel are in criminal relationships; like mine and Ilana's, or yours and Sarah's."

Baron gave him a skeptical look. "Why do you want to know that?" he asked; suspicion in his voice.

Lance kept his gaze locked with Baron's; taking a deep breath to brace himself. "I won't be able to keep my relationship with Ilana a secret for much longer; at least, not from the king. I need to find support, Baron; lots of it. If I don't, there's a good chance I'm either executed, or I go to prison; while Ilana stays locked in the palace for the foreseeable future, at the very least."

Now, Baron was more shocked than suspicious. He could see the anxious look on Lance's face, determination in his eyes, and the slight shaking of his hands. The last time the lieutenant general had seen him like this was when the then-corporal faced off against Modula one-on-one.

Holding his junior's gaze, Baron spoke. "About a third of our military personnel are in situations either similar to, or the same as, ours; with another third highly sympathetic towards people in our positions. It's really just the upper crust of the military that stand in extreme opposition…including the king. Lance, what's going on? What happened?"

The young general could see the concern in his older counterpart's eyes, and was thankful that he wasn't standing alone on this issue; he had allies that he could rely on. Giving Baron a somber smile before averting his gaze to his hands, Lance started fiddling nervously with a thread he'd ripped off of his shirt. "You're gonna say I'm a careless idiot."

Baron cocked an inquisitive eyebrow; silently prompting him to continue. The raven-haired young man took a deep breath, and returned his gaze to his older counterpart's. "She's five weeks pregnant."

A few moments of silence ticked by as the two men just stared at each other; Baron's face becoming stony, and unreadable. Lance fidgeted uncomfortably under the older man's hard stare as he waited for a reaction.

Baron blinked once, then twice; keeping his gaze locked on Lance. "She's pregnant?"

Lance nodded.

"You're going to be a father?"

Another nod.

Slowly, Baron got up off his chair, and walked over to his younger counterpart; pausing for a moment before whacking the dark-haired man upside the head. "YOU CARELESS IDIOT! WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?!" Baron shouted, causing Lance to cringe as he rubbed the back of his head.

The young general sighed, and dropped his gaze to the floor; his shoulders slumped. "The one time we were careless, and this happened."

Baron took a deep breath to calm himself, before pulling his chair up closer to his younger counterpart, and sitting back down; keeping his focus on Lance. "When did she tell you?"

Lance shook his head. "I found out last night, but she didn't tell me; Octus did. She wasn't going to, either, but Octus felt like I shouldn't be left in the dark." he said; a somber frown on his face as he lifted his gaze to Baron's. "She'd been avoiding me all week, and I didn't know why. She was going to try and put distance between us, and take this on by herself so she could protect me. Once Octus told me what was going on, I told her I wasn't going to allow that. We're in this together, whatever the outcome."

Baron nodded, but remained silent; processing the information. After a few moments, he spoke. "So, what's the plan? You know the king's gonna skin you alive, right?"

Lance nodded; a somber smirk on his face. "I'll be lucky if that's all he does to me. The next step is rallying people behind us. The king's definitely going to try and push me out at the very least, so Ilana and I need some strong support behind us. She's going to work on some of the royalty and aristocracy that she thinks would be sympathetic to us, and I'm focusing on the military. They're my people, and if there's enough that are willing to risk their necks and careers, and make their work relationships public, I think we can get the king to listen. If enough people stand with us, he might see how unjust some of these laws are. Plus, I'm sure he isn't going to want to lose a third of his military during a war."

Baron nodded contemplatively as he processed the information. "Well, you guys have me and Sarah with you, at the very least. I can help you work on the soldiers, since I see more of them than you do these days. What about the people? Since the war with Modula, you've been the de facto prince to them, and they adore Ilana; I think that's a resource you should definitely tap into. I'm confident they'd love the idea of you two marrying, and you becoming heir-apparent. In their eyes, you're just as much the kingdom's leader as the king is."

That thought hadn't really occurred to Lance, but Baron was right. Ever since the war, and the immense amount of time and energy he'd put into helping rebuild the kingdom, the people had grown to love him, and look on him as their prince, of sorts. He was, at the very least, respected and admired by the people of Galaluna; and considered one of the most eligible young men in the kingdom. The power of the people would definitely be a great thing to have, considering how much store the king set by his citizens, and their devotion to what was best for Galaluna.

Nodding, Lance adopted a small smile. "That's not a bad idea. Actually, that's a great idea. The only problem is that I can't be the one to work on them. If word starts spreading that I'm talking to people about the idea of me marrying the princess, that'll blow this entire operation."

Baron contemplated his younger counterpart's words for a moment before he spoke. "True. How about this: I work on the citizens, while you work on the soldiers? I'll see to it that this stays contained among the population; and you'll just need to make some time, and pry yourself away from your desk." the blonde said; a smirk on his face.

Lance smirked back, before giving a single nod in agreement. "Alright, that sounds good to me. Don't worry, I'll be talking to people as much as possible. We still have about three months before she starts showing, and everything goes to hell; but I'd like to talk to the king before that…preferably before my dad gets here." the young general said; his smirk disappearing as a worried frown overtook his features.

The lieutenant general cocked an inquisitive eyebrow at him. "Why are you worried about your dad?"

Lance sighed; finding Baron's gaze. "I haven't had him back in my life for long, and the last thing I want is for him to come back home just as a scandal involving his own son is breaking out. I don't want him to be any more disappointed in me than necessary."

Baron gave his younger counterpart a soft, understanding smile. "I get it…more than you know. Neither of our fathers were really involved in our lives, for different reasons; but we still want to live up to their expectations, and make them proud. Knowing your son got his girlfriend pregnant isn't exactly a proud moment...but," he paused; Lance watching him intently, and waiting to see what else the blonde-haired man had to say, as he gave him his full attention.

After a moment of studying the general's face, Baron spoke again. "Not that I'm one to talk, but, yes, he may be disappointed in your conduct…however, I think he'd be proud of you for wanting to do the honorable thing by Ilana, and marry her. I think he'd be proud to see you choosing to accept the responsibility of your bad decisions, and try to put them right. Mostly, though, I think he'll be ecstatic about the fact that his first grandchild is coming. He missed out on almost your entire childhood, Lance; I'm sure he'd do whatever it took to help you persuade the king to our side, so you and Ilana can keep your family together…so he can be a part of your child's life in a way that he wasn't a part of yours. Facing him won't be easy, but it might actually be better to talk to the king once he's back. I really think it could help more than hinder."

Slowly, a small smile made its way onto Lance's face, and Baron could see the gratitude in the young man's eyes. "Thanks, Baron; I hope you're right…and it's fiancé now, actually; which reminds me, do you and Sarah have anything to announce?" he finished; his smile morphing into a smirk.

Baron smirked back at him. "First: I know I'm right; Second: congratulations; and third: I noticed you saw the ring at Ilana's party, and I was waiting for you to ask. Yes, we're engaged, but, obviously, we haven't told anybody. Figures you'd be the one to figure it out."

"Well, then, congratulations to you both. What can I say; your luck is just that bad." Lance replied; both men chuckling slightly.

The two enjoyed a moment of amicable silence after that, before Lance rose from his seat; with Baron following suit.

"Thanks for the advice, and being willing to help. It won't be easy, but I think we can get the king to change his mind. You ready to fight a war on two battlefronts now?" the raven-haired young man asked as he extended his hand out; his smirk still on his face.

The lieutenant general smirked back; grabbing the offered hand, and giving it a firm shake. "As ready as I'll ever be. Now or never, right? I'm happy to help, knowing it'll make life better for everyone. I'll keep you informed on my progress with the citizens, and get you a list of soldiers that are currently in workplace relationships, so you can start talking to them."

Lance nodded in reply. "Sounds good. I'll keep you informed on my and Ilana's progress as well."

Baron nodded, and both men walked over to the door, opened it, and exited the room; splitting off at the end of the hallway to head their separate ways.

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As promised, Lance had returned to the palace later in the day, and was able to get Ilana alone for a few moments before her father made an appearance. He told her of his and Baron's talk, and their agreed upon plan, which Ilana thought was a good idea.

She, in turn, told him that she'd already talked with a couple of close friends from neighboring planets about supporting her, should she choose to marry below her rank. Lance was glad to hear that the two princesses, and one prince, said they would be happy to support her, if that was what she chose. Royalty understood what other royalty had to go through in terms of tradition, routine, and obligation to their kingdom; and every prince or princess was expected to marry someone of equal rank. Thus, everyone in Ilana's position felt the same constraints and restrictions as she did, and they didn't like it any more than anyone else. They felt that everyone should have the right to choose their life partner themself, regardless of birth or rank. By the end of the conversation, they had agreed to see if they could convince their fathers and mothers to throw their support behind the Galalunian princess as well if she chose to defy her father, and marry below her station, which Ilana was incredibly thankful for.

The couple had been pleased that their first steps seemed to be successful thus far, and Lance was anxious to start talking to others in the military who might be willing to back him up.

So, thus began a bevy of discreet conversations and meetings with others in his same situation; while Baron talked with people on the streets of Galaluna, and Ilana worked her magic on multiple friends, acquaintances, and cabinet members of her father. Octus had even jumped in, and worked on a number of his scientists, as well as the Galalunian people. He had developed a great reputation throughout Galaluna, and the people loved him just as much as they loved Lance and Ilana. So, he'd helped Baron with garnering popular support.

After just three months, they already had the assurance of numerous royalty, military personnel, and citizens, that they would stand with them, should the time ever come.

Lance and Ilana were both wiped out from the extra time put into garnering support, piled on top of Ilana's progressing pregnancy, and Lance's highly demanding job. So far, all of his potential leads on both the mysterious murderers on Mutrad and Galaluna had come back as dead ends, and more Galalunian soldiers were disappearing on Mutrad. The situation was getting worse, and they still weren't any closer to figuring out just what was going on. The only saving grace was that all had been quiet at home since the initial murders were discovered; so, Lance was at least thankful for that.

Edward had contacted them two months back to tell them that his return had been delayed by a couple of months due to a malfunction in his rift gate, so Lance had needed to wait on talking to his father in-person longer than he'd wished.

Now, Edward was scheduled to return home this afternoon, and the young general was anxiously awaiting his arrival. Ilana was showing now, and she was trying her best to hide her bump with puffier and more loose-fitting gowns; but they both knew that wouldn't work for much longer. He'd decided that, once he'd had a chance to talk to his father about Ilana, they should go to the king, and tell him everything. After that, he would go to Mutrad himself to assess the situation over there first-hand.

As much as he was dreading talking to both his father, and the king, he wanted everything out in the open. The ever-increasing stress was wearing Ilana down quickly, and Lance didn't want to see her struggling.

He knew she was terrified of what her father would think, because she respected and loved him so much, but she couldn't keep letting it affect her like this. The baby was already making her feel a lot more fatigued, and Lance didn't want to see her pushing herself so hard.

They'd spent three months preparing for this, and he was ready to face it. 'Well, even if I didn't feel ready, I don't have a choice anymore. Time's up.' he thought as he stood in the hanger of the air base, waiting for his father's ship to land. He'd seen the rift gate open just a few moments ago, and spotted two ships making their way through. One he knew was his father's, but he didn't recognize the other. He was curious to find out who their unexpected visitor was.

Standing at attention in front of a line of Galaunian solders, Lance watched as his father's ship landed without issue; the door opening, and a walkway stretching down to reach the concrete floor.

Saluting, but with a large smile on his face, he watched his father descend the walkway, and head straight over to him. Edward smiled warmly at his son; enjoying the first glimpse of his boy that he'd had in almost five years.

Saluting back, before grabbing Lance in a bear hug, Edward gave his son a squeeze. "It's so good to see you again, Lance. You have no idea how much I've missed you." he said; releasing the raven-haired young man.

Lance's smile grew, and he put a hand on his dad's shoulder. "I think I do, Dad; It's good to see you too." he replied, before eyeing the newly landed ship behind his father.

Edward, noticing his son's gaze, smiled, turned around, and began walking over to the other ship as its door opened; the walkway extending out. He walked up the ramp, and disappeared for a moment, before returning with a familiar face next to him that Lance didn't think he'd see again.

He felt his jaw hit the floor faster than a bag of concrete. "Kimmy?!" he hollered; sprinting over to his father, and the pretty red-head.

Sure enough, Kimmy Mysner smiled warmly at him. "Lance! It's so good to see you!" she replied; giving him a small hug before taking a step back, and looking around the hanger. "Wow, this place is bigger than my college campus. Is this really just the hanger?"

Lance blinked dumbly, before processing her question; trying to make sense of her presence to begin with. "Yeah, this is the military hanger; the rest of the military buildings are that way, closer to the palace." he said; pointing in the direction of his own office and quarters.

Kimmy nodded; looking around in wide-eyed wonder at the completely new world before her. Lance, who was standing there, watching her, couldn't hold it in anymore, and decided to ask her the question that was blaring in his mind. "Kimmy, not that I'm not glad to see you, but what on earth are you doing here; and how do you know my father? Won't your family or school wonder where you are?" he asked; deep confusion on his face.

Kimmy gave him a sad smile in reply; glancing quickly towards Edward, before bringing her full attention back to Lance. "I guess your dad never told you, then. My family died last year. My parents, and my little brother, got T-boned by a drunk truck driver. The truck ended up on top of their car, and all three of them were crushed; they had no chance of surviving. I met your dad about a week later when he showed up at the funeral. I had no idea who he was, so when I asked him what his connection was to me, he said he was there on behalf of Octus…" she said; her eyes beginning to shine with tears, "As soon as I heard that name, I asked him about everything he knew about you guys, and he told me who he was. We've been talking regularly ever since. A few months after my family's funeral, your dad randomly called me up at school, and asked if I'd be interested in a job. I was struggling financially at the time, so I jumped on it. He brought me to G3, explained the organization, introduced me to Solomon, and had me start as his personal assistant. Apparently, he'd promised Octus that he'd look out for me, and help me, if I ever needed it. We've developed a good relationship, and when he said he was coming back here for good, I asked him if I could come, too. My family's gone, I wasn't happy at school…and I still love Octus. I've missed him so much, and the opportunity to see him again was too good to pass up. I know you're in another war right now, and things are dangerous, but I don't care. If the king will let me, I'd like to stay, and become a Galalunian citizen." she finished, as Lance's thoughts swirled around in his head.

'Wow…I wasn't expecting that' he thought; organizing his mind, and giving her a small, sad smile. "I'm sorry for your loss, Kimmy. I'm sure the king would be happy to meet you, and discuss permanent citizenship…if you're sure that's what you want. Would you like to see Octus today as well?" he said, watching her carefully.

Kimmy nodded determinedly, and Lance's smile grew. "Alright, then. The princess and I will bring you to see Octus this evening; but for now, I'll have Private Gordan bring you to the king." he replied as he motioned to a young man with sandy-blonde hair, and multiple freckles on his face, to come over. The private walked up to her, and gestured for her to follow him; with Edward giving her a reassuring nod to follow the soldier.

Kimmy nodded back, before saying goodbye to Lance, and walking out of sight with the young man.

Turning his sight from his retreating travelling companion to his son, Edward gave him a thoughtful look. "What's troubling you, Lance? I know you; you have something on your mind."

Lance nodded once, before gesturing for his father to follow him. Nodding in reply, Edward traced Lance's footsteps until they were out of the hanger, down the road, and walking into the general's office.

Lance locked the door behind him, and turned to his father; a guilty but determined look on his face.

Edward cocked a confused eyebrow, before his attention turned to the sudden opening of the door that led to Lance's private quarters; Ilana standing in the doorway wearing a very baggy sweater, and jeans.

Now far more curious, Edward looked back at Lance as the princess came to stand next to the raven-haired young man. Lance kept his gaze fixed on his father's as he began to speak. "Dad, before I explain, I need to say I'm sorry. You're going to be disappointed in me, but I hope you'll hear us out completely, and think about everything carefully, before passing a final judgement."

With his face settling into a serious expression, Edward nodded in reply. "I will. Please; continue, son."

Lance nodded in reply before pressing on. "As you know, Ilana and I grew very close through our stay on earth, and we formed a unique friendship during our time in Sherman. Once we returned, we were able to keep up that friendship discreetly, despite the risks, and we grew even closer." he said; pausing for a moment as Edward gave another nod in agreement. "Yes, I'd noticed you two had formed a very strong bond. You understood each other in a way most people wouldn't, because of what you'd been through together. Am I correct in assuming there was more to it than what you portrayed to others?" he asked; raising a curious eyebrow.

Lance nodded in reply; taking Ilana's hand in his. "We remained friends for two years after returning, but things changed when King Simon proposed to her during his visit here. She refused him, and…well, we had a conversation after that. We've been dating for two years now, under the radar. The king doesn't know, and none of the laws have changed to enable us to progress our relationship the way we'd like to. We've been trying to think of some way to persuade the king to change the laws, but we haven't been successful yet. I proposed to Ilana almost four and a half months ago, and she said yes, but we still have the same problem we've had since the beginning."

Edward's face was unreadable, and Lance could tell he was processing the information. The raven-haired young man gave his father a few moments to sort out his thoughts before the Galalunian scientist decided to speak. "You're breaking the law, Lance, and you know it. You could be executed for treason. Don't get me wrong; I'm not angry with you two for following your hearts; but, as your father, I can't claim to not be worried about your safety. Have you given the king any indication at all about your intentions, or does he suspect anything between you two?"

Lance shook his head. "No, none. We've been very careful. We've only really had one close call so far, but…" he hesitated; a somber, guilt-ridden look overtaking his face. Edward gave him a concerned, probing look, and he took a deep breath before looking from his father, to Ilana, and back again. "we can't hide it from him any longer. We need to tell him, and we need your help."

Edward held his son's gaze; searching his eyes. "Why can't you hide it from him any longer?" he asked, before looking over to Ilana, who had withdrawn her hand from his son's.

He watched wordlessly as the princess brought her hands to her stomach; pressing the sweater to her skin, and revealing the small but noticeable baby bump that the garment had been concealing.

The scientist's eyes widened in shock, his mouth hung open, and his head pivoted back to his son; Lance giving him a small, somber smile. "You'll be meeting your first grandchild in a little less than five months."

Edward didn't speak a word for a full thirty seconds, and Lance could see Ilana tense up under the older man's gaze. Reflexively, he wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her close to him; feeling her relax slightly as he held his father's stare. "Yes, we've made some big mistakes, and now we're reaping the consequences; we're very well aware of that. I told you you'd be disappointed in me, and I don't expect you to not be angry, but I want to fix this, Dad. I want to do the honorable thing by Ilana. I love her, and I've wanted to marry her for years. She's been the best thing that's ever happened to me, and I wouldn't be half the man I am today without her. I want a future with her…and I'll be damned if I let the king take my family away from me. I'll die before that happens."

The Galalunian scientist nodded slowly; his mind reeling. He knew, after so many years of crazy events in his life, to expect the unexpected…but nothing could have prepared him for this. His emotions were swirling as he desperately tried to separate his rational thoughts from his reactionary ones. Yes, he was very disappointed in the decisions his son had made, which had now resulted in the creation of a new life under the wrong set of circumstances; but he was proud of Lance for wanting to take responsibility for those bad decisions, and create a legitimate family with the mother of his child. The major complication was the legality of the union. He knew very well that Edmund was a stickler for the law, and would show no favoritism; regardless of the people, or circumstances, involved. That was one thing that made him such a good king, but it also made him inflexible to any suggestion of change.

He himself didn't agree with the ridiculous and archaic law of not allowing a prince or princess to marry beneath their station. In his mind, if the candidate met the requirements of an upright and honest character, understanding of both domestic and foreign affairs, financial planning, and a knowledge of all things pertaining to the military, then their birth and status shouldn't matter.

However, regardless of what he thought, that was not how the current system operated, and Edmund had never been open to discussing a revision of the law. So, now, Lance and Ilana were in a very precarious situation, with no clear way out.

All at once, a deep-rooted fear for his son's and grandchild's lives and safety settled in him, and he gave Lance a serious, but scared look. "You're right; I am disappointed in your decisions. You're smarter than that, Lance, and I expected more from you…however, I'm proud of you for wanting to accept responsibility, correct the mistake, and marry her. You're right in assuming that the king will rail against this, and try to separate you two. He holds strictly to established law, and I can't imagine he'll easily accept it. You know he'll feel like you've betrayed him, don't you? How on earth are you planning on winning this fight when you've now basically forfeited his trust? I'm very concerned for you both…as a father, and a grandfather."

Lance sighed, and nodded, as he looked over at Ilana, before quickly dropping his gaze to the ground; sorting out what to say. After a few moments, he raised his eyes back to his father's. "I know he's going to hate me, and feel betrayed after this, and I don't blame him; but I…no, we, won't take no for an answer. I know you're scared for my safety, Dad, but I need you to trust us…and help us, if you're willing to."

Edward nodded his head in agreement. "I'll do anything to keep you, Ilana, and my grandchild safe. What do you need me to do?" he asked; watching his son closely.

A small, grateful smile appeared on Lance's face. "We've spent the last three months gathering support amongst a large number of the citizens, several nobilities from other kingdoms, and the military. As you know, relations between members of the Galalunian military are strictly forbidden; and exposure of such a relationship would result in an immediate dishonorable discharge for both parties. Well, I found out from a reliable and trustworthy source, who's also in a relationship with a fellow soldier, that a third of our military force is involved in such activities, and another third is highly sympathetic towards people like him and myself. We're hoping that, by having all of this backing, we can pressure the king to relent, and have an amendment put forward to change the laws. So, I was hoping…since you're the king's best and oldest friend, that you'd be willing to help us argue our case when we speak to him?"

Edward thought for a moment before nodding slowly. "I see. It's actually not a bad strategy. The king has always listened to the will of his people, and taken their wishes into careful consideration whenever making any major decisions that would impact the kingdom. Not only that, I doubt he would want to lose anywhere from one to two-thirds of his military personnel in the middle of a war. I assume the support from other nobility came from you, princess?" he asked, to which Ilana nodded in confirmation. "Yes. I've spoken to several friends, who, in turn, spoke to their parents about the matter. I talked with a total of thirty from ten different kingdoms that are allies of Galaluna. Twenty-eight of those thirty have successfully persuaded their parents to back me. All they know is that I've been considering potential suitors outside of the aristocracy, but they've all met Lance several times throughout the years through various diplomatic meetings where he would accompany myself and my father as part of the royal guard. They think he's a wonderful man, a remarkable soldier, and that we're very lucky to have him in our service. Frankly, I think they have just as high an opinion of him as the Galalunian people do. I can't imagine they would change their minds, and object, once they know he's the one I've been speaking of."

Another slow nod from Edward, and the room fell quiet. Lance and Ilana stood stock still, waiting for the scientist to say something…anything. Lance could feel his nerves kick in while his father looked thoughtfully at the floor. His body tensed up, and his grip on Ilana's waist tightened, before he felt a gentle hand rubbing small circles on his back. All at once, he relaxed once more, and looked over at his fiancé; a grateful, gentle, and loving smile on his face.

Ilana smiled reassuringly back. She knew how hard this was for him, and she was proud of him for facing it head on. Lance respected his father more than anyone else; except her, her father, Octus, and, now, Baron. She knew how much it hurt him to know he'd let his father down, and she wanted to be as much of a comfort to him as possible.

The two kept their gazes locked on each other for a few moments, before Ilana gave him a slight nod; the look in her eyes clearly conveying her faith in him.

Lance's smile grew slightly as he bent down; kissing her on the cheek, and feeling her smile grow in response. She would never know how grateful he was to have her, but he would make sure to try and convey it to her every single day for the rest of his life.

She gave him a playful wink, before they heard the slight rustling of fabric. Both of them turned back toward Edward to find him staring at them; his arms no longer crossed, and a soft smile on his face.

Both of them blushed slightly; embarrassed, and not used to anyone else witnessing their more tender, private moments. Slowly, Edward made his way over to them; putting an arm around each of their shoulders, and pulling them in for a warm hug. "That's all I needed to see. Of course I'll help you two with the king. I can't guarantee we'll be successful, but I'll do what I can."

The young couple let out relieved sighs, and hugged the half-robotic man back, before he let them go completely; taking a step back. Looking over at his son, he put a hand on his shoulder. "You two remind me of myself and your mother when we were your age…and Edmund and Ileana."

Ilana looked at him; surprised. "You knew my mother?" she asked, to which Edward nodded; a warm smile on his face. "Oh yes. The king and I have known each other since we were boys; we've been best friends our whole lives. I remember the day he met your mother."

Curious, Ilana gave him an inquisitive look. "Father's never told me about how he met my mom; he's only ever shared stories of her after they got married. How'd they meet?"

Edward's smile shifted, and took on a slightly more…mischievous look, as he shook his head. "That's a story you should hear from your father, not me. Once you two confront him, I have a feeling he'll be more inclined to tell you."

Ilana cocked a questioning eyebrow at him as Lance did the same; both of them adopting puzzled looks on their faces. "Dad, what are you not telling us?" he asked; a silent challenge in his eyes.

Edward merely shook his head again. "The king should tell you. Suffice to say, I'll be using that to our advantage when we speak with him. Just trust me, Lance."

Deciding to let it go for now, and do as his father advised, Lance nodded in agreement before glancing over at Ilana, then back to his dad. "Alright, we'll follow your lead. So, are we all in accord, moving forward?"

Everyone in the room nodded, and Edward crossed his arms over his chest. "When are you two planning on speaking with the king?"

Lance and Ilana shared a look, before returning their attention back to the scientist. "In about an hour and a half. Baron and Octus have drafted a petition to the king for a change in the law, and acquired signatures from all of the citizens and military personnel we've spoken to that are in support. Ilana's acquired signatures from her supporters as well." Lance replied, as Ilana chimed in, "We have ninety million signatures from Galaluna. It's taken a long time to get them all, but Octus managed it."

Edward raised an eyebrow in question. "Only ninety million? Seems like a small number to me, but I don't know the current Galalunian population, either."

Ilana nodded in reply. "Coming from earth, where the total population is over twenty-two billion, it would be. Galaluna is a much smaller planet, with only one kingdom; we only have one-hundred million people total. We have support from almost all of the kingdom."

Edward nodded in understanding. "I see. Well, I take it back, then. That's a very good result. Let's hope it does the trick, and your father listens." he replied.

Lance and Ilana nodded in agreement, before a knock came from the office door. Ilana stepped out of sight as Lance unlocked, and opened the door; greeted by Octus and Baron holding a veeeeeeeery long, rolled up sheet of paper. "Greetings, careless idiot. Mind if we come in?" the blonde-haired man said; a smirk on his face.

Lance smirked back, before stepping aside, and letting them enter. As they crossed over the threshold, they saw Ilana and Edward standing on the far side of the room, and bowed to her. "Princess. Our apologies if we interrupted a private conversation." Baron said, looking over at Lance.

The raven-haired man shook his head, and closed the door behind them. "No, you didn't. We had just finished talking. My father is going to help us with the king."

Baron and Octus nodded, before turning toward Edward. "Thank you for being willing to use your influence with the king to help our cause, sir. We greatly appreciate it."

Edward nodded in reply. "Anything to help my son. Thank you for your support as well, lieutenant general." he replied before turning to Octus, and giving the robot a warm smile. "It's good to see you again, Octus. I've missed you all since you left earth, but I hear things have been going well for you."

Octus nodded; the holographic image of Newton smiling back at the older man. "It's good to see you again as well, Edward. Yes, things have been going very well here…at least, up until recently." he said; slight humor in his voice as he looked to Lance and Ilana, who had guilty smiles on their faces.

Edward chuckled in reply before looking to the sheet of rolled up paper in the robot's hands. "Is that the petition with the signatures?" he asked, to which Octus nodded. "Yes, this is it. I've made copies of it, but I thought it would be better to bring the original to the king, for authenticity."

Agreeing with the statement, Edward looked to Baron next. "Will you be joining us in the discussion with the king, Baron?"

Baron shook his head. "Not initially. I'll be waiting in the hallway with my fiancé, who is also a member of the Galalunian military, along with a few other high-ranking military members who have either girlfriends or fiancés in the military as well. We'll also have some higher-ranking sympathizers with us for extra support. Lance will come and get us when he feels the moment is right during the conversation. Octus will bring the petition with him to the meeting, though."

Edward nodded as he looked around the room. "So, we all know the plan, then. Are we ready to do this?" he asked; watching as everyone else in the room nodded in confirmation. "Good. My goodness, this was definitely not the homecoming I was expecting." he said humorously, soliciting slight laughter from the room. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go say hi to my old friend, Edmund, and keep up the pretense that everything is as it should be. I'll see you all soon." he said, as he walked over to the door, opened it, and crossed over the threshold; closing the door behind him.

Baron looked to Lance; a slightly concerned look on his face. "Are you sure we can trust him, Lance? I know he's your dad, but-"

Lance held up a hand, cutting Baron off. "Don't worry, Baron; he's on our side. Weren't you the one who told me to trust that my father would help us?" he asked; a smirk on his face.

Baron sighed, and gave his younger counterpart a small smile. "I know. Sorry, I'm just starting to feel the nerves kicking in. This could either go really well for us, or horribly wrong; and I'm not sure which is the more likely scenario."

Lance nodded in reply; fully understanding how Baron was feeling. "Believe me, I get it. I don't know what's going to happen, but I'm glad to know I've got friends I can rely on if everything goes south." he said, giving Baron a small smile.

The lieutenant general smiled back, before straightening up, and saluting Lance. "I'll always have your back, general. It's an honor to serve with you."

Lance smiled fully, and saluted back. "It's a privilege to have you as my right-hand man, lieutenant general. At ease." he replied, as both men brought their hands back down to their sides; Ilana and Octus smiling warmly at the interaction between the two former rivals-turned friends.

Walking over to Lance, Ilana gave him a kiss on the cheek, before glancing between the three boys. "Alright, I better get back to the palace to change before they send out a search party. Are we all ready?"

Everyone nodded their heads in confirmation as Ilana smiled at them. "Good. I'll see you all in a little over an hour, then." she said; turning, and exiting the same way Edward had just a few moments prior.

Watching the door close, Lance looked back over at Baron and Octus. "Alright, we have the petition, and the signatures. Do you have everyone lined up for later, Baron?"

Baron nodded in confirmation. "Yup. Sarah and the others will meet me at the palace at ten of four. We'll hang out just outside the king's office, and wait for your queue."

"Great; that's perfect. Octus, you know your part?" the raven-haired man said, turning next to his robotic friend. Octus nodded in confirmation as well. "Stay close to Ilana, and monitor for palace guards. I'll talk if I think what I have to say will be beneficial, but I'll primarily be making sure you two stay safe."

Lance nodded once; satisfied that everyone was clear on their jobs. "Okay, then; I think we're all set." he said; a nervous smile on his face.

The others cracked small smiles of their own as they turned, and headed to the door. "We'll see you soon, Lance." Baron said, as he and Octus opened the door, and walked out; leaving Lance to prepare for the upcoming confrontation. Walking over to a trunk on the far side of his office space, Lance opened it up, and pulled out the military uniform that had been neatly folded, and tucked away. It was his general's outfit for diplomatic visits, and royal events. On the red jacket, there was pinned every military decoration he'd received in his entire career, along with the royal crest adorning a gold sash that was worn under the jacket. He glanced over at the medal that sat at the top of the others, located directly over the area of his heart. It was the medal that symbolized the rank of General of the Galalunian Military. He'd helped the king design it, as one had never before been created for the rank. It was a gold medal in the shape of a lion's head overlooking a strip of field, with mountains in the background. Sun rays radiated out from behind the mountains, rounding off the medal at the top, and a pride of lions etched into the field below the head. The words 'Per plures, unum' were inscribed at the bottom. The medal itself wasn't large, and you had to look closely to see all of the intricate details of it, but the king had loved the design, as well as the inscription.

'Over many, one. Simple, and to the point; just like the king. No wonder he liked it' Lance thought humorously as he hung up the uniform, and looked it over closely. 'All or nothing, Lance. If you're gonna do this, do it right'

Assuring himself that nothing needed to be ironed, Lance stripped out of his standard military garb, and began dressing in the formal attire. He wanted to show the king as much respect as possible, under the circumstances. The least he could do to that end was present himself as well as he could.

'Alright, it's game time' he thought as he checked himself over in the mirror one last time before opening his door, taking a deep breath, and closing it behind him.