Okay, I know that this chapter is short, please forgive me…pretty please?  This chapter is a little different because it is going to start the part of the story dealing with Dylan and the Commonwealth.

Harper's Pixie: Wait no more! I won't reveal just yet though Harper's secret, for that you will have to wait. Thanks for the review.

Starra86: Yay! I love when new people find my stories after they are started. And thank you for liking my writing style, that, to me, is such a compliment. It means a lot to me, so thank you once more.  Thanks again for the review.

Squid109: Thank you for the review, I am glad that what I wrote seemed real…I personally don't have a lot of experience with such types of love, so it is quite a compliment to me that it seemed identifiable to you, though I hope you haven't had to experience heartbreak.

Trance-Gemmy: Thanks, I am glad you think I write the characters well. Because the story takes place in the future I have kind of evolved the characters a little. I matured them, so I am glad that they still seem familiar to you. Thanks for the review.

And with that, here's the next chapter.

Chapter Six:

Completely Vulnerable

Dylan sat in Parliament staring at the face of Randash Phillan, the President of Milcore, as he felt the anger growing inside his chest.

"Dylan," Randash said with joyful malice in his voice, "Don't look so upset."

"Randash how could you? You were instrumental in helping me set up the Commonwealth Parliament. Do you even remember those times, eighteen years ago? I wanted peace, and darn it Randash…we had it! I thought you wanted it too," Dylan practically screamed into the screen, betrayal and pain scorching though him.

The sly look was instantly wiped off Randash's face, replaced for a short second by a pained look of guilt as the memories of his early days in Parliament swept through him. He was hurting his friend; Dylan had never been anything but kind to him. However, that look passed as quickly as it came and his face once again held a look of malice and danger. Dylan wasn't his problem anymore. He pushed all doubt and remorse from his mind.

"I was young Dylan…and naïve. Now I know better. You either hand over Krall to me and my men by midnight tomorrow or there will be major consequences. Goodbye Dylan"

With that the screen went blank, and Dylan watched the face of his old best friend disappear.

"Well?" a short man standing to Dylan's right asked.

"Well what?" Dylan asked.

"Well, what course of action would you have us take sir?" the man asked, anxiety written all over his face.

"I don't know Sam. I don't know. I need some time."

"In all due respect sir," another member or Parliament, a younger woman with blonde haired pulled tight in a bun, said, "Time is not something we have lots of. Midnight tomorrow, or we suffer major consequences… remember. When he says major he means it. Randash and his men are a major group in the Commonwealth, we have allowed them great access to different weapons because of the work he has done for us in the past. There is no telling what he will do if we don't give him Krall."

"He is going to screw us over with our own weapons," Dylan said aloud.

"Boss?"

Dylan said nothing.

"Boss?"

"What?"

"What do you want to do?"

"I told you…I don't know, I need some time."

"We don't have any time."

"Well, you're just going to have to be patient, I need to think this over. I'll give you my decision in the morning. Okay?"

"Boss…"

"Okay?" Dylan asked, the tone in his voice telling the man it wasn't really a question.

"Okay, tomorrow it is."

Harper, who had been standing towards the back of the room, watching everything silently take place, quickly noticed the pain on Dylan's face. He made his way to the front of the room where Dylan was still standing so many different emotions registering on his face.

"You okay Dylan? Who was that guy?"

The sound of Harper's voice broke Dylan from his thoughts.

"That was Randash Phillan, President of the Milcore system, and an old friend of mine. I met him back right after you headed to Earth, I worked beside him to get Parliament up and running," Dylan said, not even bothering to hide the pain resounding in his voice.

"I'm sorry Dylan; this is the second time now you have been betrayed by a friend."

Dylan simply nodded, acknowledging Harper's comment. "He always had such a passion for the Commonwealth, he worked so hard. He was my right hand man for a long time, and then, when there was an opening for leadership in Krall, he was almost unanimously elected. I remember when he took rule, I was so proud of him. And now…he wants Krall. It's a large system just north of his. Linking those two systems together would make him stronger than the entire Commonwealth. He has been instrumental in protecting so many different planets. Because of his involvement in so many different causes the Commonwealth has loaned him many weapons, as well as high security technology. He has us Harper. We are almost completely vulnerable to him."

And now it is your job…hit that review button! Please you guys, I would love any reviews, I love the comments and suggestions I get from you guys!