This may be short, but I hope you will enjoy it

Preparations

Slap.

"Ow!" Derek cries from the rude awakening, "what the-"

Slap.

"Ow! Hey!"

Slap.

"Quit it!"

Slap.

"Uh Knott," somebody speaks up, "I think he's awake."

Knott slaps Derek one more time before stepping away and shrugs, "Just making sure."

Derek utter curses underneath his breath as he sits up. He is in a different location again, this time he is back in the barracks lying on his designated cot. Knott is there, but after a quick sweep he sees that Alasha isn't present nor is doc Kaleb.

Instead the room is filled with Marines, or to be more precise, his squad.

Private First Class James Tray is seated on his foot locker poistioned not too far from Derek's bunk. He and Derek were the "green" Marines that had arrived a few weeks ago, he looks just as wide eyed as anyone else in the room.

Laying on her cot a few feet away is Sergeant Mi-Cha Chang or "Mi" as the others called her. She is currently reading a Star Magazine, but every so often her eyes flick over in his direction, obviously curious in what is happening.

Also present is Corporal Jade Koklas from last night's party, the apparent culprit who covered his chest in glitter. There are bags under her eyes and she is leaning heavily against the far wall while trying to focus on Derek and all that is happening around her.

Lastly is Staff Sergeant Jonah Peterson, a professional Marine in public, but at night he's an unregistered party animal. Is he here out of coincidence or did Knott tell him of how Derek could be the main reason why humanity and Sanghelios would go to war again?

Derek wonders if he's coming down with something as he feels his stomach churn at that notion. He gets nervous for breaking one of his mother's dishes, no telling how his body will react if he causes the next great human conflict.

"Alright then," Knott says as he claps his hands together, "now that we're all here, we have a big mission we need to get prepped for."

"A mission?" Tray asks and perks up, instantly excited. The others though frowns at this. They haven't had a briefing or seen anything suspicious around camp to suggest such a thing. Any military action would arouse the Sangheili suspicions and cause trouble.

"That's right," Knott confirms with a nod before turning back to the group, "and that mission is," he pauses before holding his hands out towards Derek in a presenting sort of way, "is to make this idiot look desirable."

"What!?" Derek shouts as he sits up straight only to double over when he feels his stomach protesting at the sudden movement.

"Wait, wait, wait a moment now," Jonah says as he holds out his hand and makes a 'slow down' gesture, "please don't tell me this is a joke Knott, I have some papers I needed to get signed."

"I thought you hated paperwork," Jade says as she looks at the Staff Sergeant.

Jonah's shoulders droops as he nods his head, "thanks for reminding me."

"Alright, look kiddies," Knott addresses them, "I admit, this very well be mission impossible here-"

"Hey!" shouts Derek again, but Knott continues on, "but if we don't do this, there will be dire consequences."

"Such as?" Mi asks sarcastically as she lays her magazine down and looks fully at Knott.

"How does The Covenant War part two sounds to you?" Knott asks in a deadpan voice.

He is met with blank stares and bewilderment before Jonah speaks for all of them, "I'm not following."

"It's all very simple," Knott explains as he points to Derek, "remember this guy posting a video on the military net asking the Keep Lord's daughter out to the ball?"

Tray snickers, which Knott took for confirmation as he concludes.

"Well she answered with a yes."

"Wait," Jade holds up her hands, "what?"

"She saw the video apparently," Knott clarifies, "and since Derek is a guy and a 'Warrior'," he makes air quotes with his fingers, "then she cannot refused since on this planet guys are the dominant species."

"Hold on, hold on a second," Mi demands as she sits up, "you're telling me Derek," she points at the indicated Marine, "Green, baby-face Derek, is taking a monster of a woman out to a Marine ball?"

"I don't have a baby face," Derek defends himself before becoming self-conscious as he looks away from the group, "but uh…yeah, I am."

There is a moment of silence before everyone present, minus Derek and Knott, busts out laughing. Tray is holding his sides while Jade slides down the wall and sits on the floor. Even Mi has to grab the side of her cot to keep herself standing as she bends over with the laughs while Jonah shakes his head at Derek's misfortune. Even Knott allows another chuckle to escape while Derek resists the urge to grab his blanket and hide underneath it.

"That's priceless," Jade declares as she wipes the tears from her eyes.

"I admit," Knott says with a grin, "that can get anyone laughing," his smiles disappears as he speaks, "but seriously, she accepted and we have to help hot shot here," another gesture at Derek, "to look his best."

Tray furrows his browse at this before leaning in a little, "Why?" A small grin breaks forth, "Not that I agree with this whole situation, but why do we need to help Derek with his," Tray giggles to himself before saying, "date?"

"Because," Knott says in slow and delicate voice as if he is speaking to a child, "if little Derek here Break's his girlfriend's heart, then her daddy in turn will snap our spines and so continues Armageddon on humanity," he finishes with a smile, "is that enough of a reason?"

All the grins slowly morphs into frowns of thoughtfulness. True this was all funny when it was meant as a joke, but now, thinking of it on the large scale that Knott is putting it on, they realize they might be in trouble here.

"Sounds like it's not worth the risk," Jade finally says, "call a rain day."

"I can't," Derek says with a shake of his head, "to do so will cause the Keep Lord to lose respect because I'm basically saying there is something wrong with his daughter."

"But you're human," Mi points out, "why would your words matter in alien politics?"

"After idiot here took another nap," Knott jerks his chin at Derek, "his date, Alasha, told me since the Arbiter is pushing for human delegates to be heard, that also opens the way for us men," here he thumps his chest with a fist, "to gain some social power."

"Yeah but still," Mi continues, "is our words really going to mean that much?"

"Alasha doesn't want to risk it," Knott elaborates, "she says even though Sanghelios is united, the Keep Lords still have feuds among them, if someone, like a so called warrior for example, says that there is something wrong with a woman than it becomes all but law. This Keep has a lot of enemies apparently and they will jump at any opportunity to exploit the Quas family, including this little unique situation right here."

"Like in the middle ages," pipes up Tray, "like with castles and stuff, right?"

"Sure kid," Knott says with a roll of his eyes, "like the middle ages, with castles, energy swords and freaking laser turrets capable of melting a man in a mere second."

The overstated description causes the young man to flinch slightly at the words.

"So," Jonah drawls out, "this little date will either make or break the alliance, right?"

"You got it," Knott says with a thumbs up.

"And…" Jade draws out as she looks among the Marines, "what is it that you want us to do about it?"

"Well look at him," Knott points out Derek, "Alasha said so herself, he isn't the ideal perfect man is he?"

"Among aliens or humans?" Mi asks.

"Both."

"Hey!" shouts Derek, "I'm in pretty decent shape if I do say so myself."

"Uh huh," Mi says as she folds her arms and looks Derek up and down, "and how many dates have you had hot shot?"

Derek suddenly becomes quiet, causing the silence to draw out over a few seconds.

"Well this doesn't bode well," Jade comments.

Brushed by the words, Derek reports, "Two, I had two dates."

"Two," Mi says as she nods her head slowly, "and how old are you?"

"…nineteen."

Mi smirks, "Well you're practically a man on the prowl aren't you?"

"It's not my fault," Derek defends as his face heats up, "I grew up on a farm, miles away from civilization ok. When you help out on a farm you don't exactly have a lot of time one hand."

"Alright settle down farmer Brown," Knott waves a hand at him before looking back at the team, "well? What do you suggest?"

"Long term?" Jade asks, "Perhaps a bit more muscles could help."

"Good, good and all," Knott acknowledges, "but the dance is tomorrow, what can we do in that time?"

"I don't know," Tray says with a shrug, "there's really not much wrong from what I can see."

"Really?" demands Mi, "I can give a list of things we could work on."

"Great," Knott says, "such as?"

"Clothes," Mi starts to list off, "taste in food, haircut, body odor-"

"What!?" asks Derek.

"Now hold on there," Jonah says as he rubs his chin while in thought, "that makes sense, I mean, Sangheilis have a greater sense of smell right?"

"True," Knott says with a nod, "if there's anything we can start on, it could probably be that."

Derek slowly shakes his head, "there has to be a way out of this nightmare."

"Can you think of any?" Knott demands, "I'm all ears for any kind of suggestion."

The young Marine is quiet for a while before he shrugs, "maybe I can say I couldn't go because I was shot in the foot."

Knott blinks before looking down at the floor, but sees that Derek's feet are whole.

"Who shot you in the foot?" Knott asks.

"You did," before he could question it, Derek stands up and takes his Magnum from his holster and presents it to Knott while he looks away with his eyes shut tight, "now hurry and shoot before I change my mind."

Knott eyes widens in surprise as he steps away from Derek, "I'm not going to shoot you-"

"I will!" Jade suddenly declares as she pulls out her own magnum, pulls the hammer back and points it at Derek, only she is aiming at his chest and not his foot.

"Wait!" Mi suddenly launches herself forward and rams her body against Jade's, causing the gun to go off. The shot goes wide and instead of hitting Derek, it sails pass him and buries itself in the floor between Jonah's own two feet.

The Staff Sergeant swore as he quickly backtracks but in his haste he trips over someone's duffle bag and lands with a heavy thud on the floor.

Everyone jumps from the chaos and the bang that the bullet caused as they back away from the woman with the weapon.

However Mi whips the Magnum out of Jade's hand and staggers away from her while she was panting heavily.

"WHAT ARE YOU CRAZY!?" She screams, "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!?"

"Sorry," Jade says and gave them a cheesy smile, "I think I'm still a little woozy from last night."

"No kidding?" Jonah asks as he stands up while rubbing his head, "I thought it was Derek that we were trying to kill."

"No one," Mi growls out, "is killing this coward."

She suddenly turns on her heel and marches towards Derek with the gun in hand. Sensing her hostility, Knott and Tray retreats farther back away from Derek as if he had a contagious disease. On his part, Derek backs away desperately until Mi's arm shot out and grabs him before pulling him close. He is a few inches taller than Mi is, but her holding a gun made her look a lot more intimidating.

"Listen kid," she snarls, reminding Derek of Alasha at that moment, "I don't care one little bit about the Sangheilis, my vote in the matter is nuke them while we have the chance." Derek noticed she gripped the gun tightly after saying that and he feels sweat starting to break out on his brow.

"But," He looks back into her fiery eyes as she leans closer to him and speaking softly, "you know what I hate more than aliens?"

Derek gulps as he stutters, "Uh…a Marine who does stupid things?" he ends with a hesitant grin.

There is the click of the handgun being loaded while she pulls him closer and whispers into his ear, "guys, who stand up girls just for laughs."

Derek blinks before pulling away from her, "Hold on, this is completely off subject, I don't want to-"

He is cut off when the muzzle of the handgun is pushed against his throat. His eyes widen in alarm as he looks around the barracks, silently pleading for someone to save him. However all the Marines continue to watch in frozen horror of a possible murder about to be taken place, Jade is even leaning forward with her eyes bright and alert as if this is some sort of messed up movie. Is she really that far gone?

"Listen Heath," Mi breathes out, "Everyone here, and probably everyone in the galaxy, is laughing at this girl because of what you did," she starts poking him with the Magnum, "not because of Knott's liquor," another poke, "not because of her," poke again, "but because of you."

She steps back and lowers the gun, "Is it really fair for her to be humiliated, not once but twice because she had a nitwit like you? Have you even stopped to consider what will happen to her if you weasel out of this?"

She points the gun towards the wall, in the direction of the Keep, "this isn't high school, she's not going to be able to brush it off, especially when the whole military net is aware of her," Mi looks him dead in the eye, "her people, her very future, could have been ruined because of you and you think just because you're scared that justifies you ruining her like this?"

Derek opens his mouth but no words came out. What can he say? He guess in a way…he really was being selfish. Ever since this whole mess began he has been trying like mad to stop it, not for Alasha but for his own sake, his own self. He never once considered how Alasha would be feeling about this or how it would be affecting her. He doesn't believe he's a scumbag like Mi apparently believes he is, yet right now…he is starting to wonder about that himself.

Still…

"I…" Derek finally finds his voice, "I understand Mi, but I just don't want to…to…"

"Take it too far?" Knott asks.

Derek feels his face turning red again, but bobs his head in confirmation.

"Then don't," Jonah injects, "honestly it doesn't sound like she is really thrilled to be going out with you so don't make it into a bigger issue, just take her out, give her food, dance, mingle, then get her back home before her daddy starts getting suspicious."

"Not exactly how I would put it," Mi says as she removes the clip from the magnum and releases the round that was in the chamber, "but yeah," she turns to Derek and nods, "just do that at the very least and then you're a free man afterwords."

Derek only nods at this. The way they were talking, thinking about what was at stake…it really is starting to feel like a mission.

"Alright then," Knott gains their attention once more, "perfect, now even though Heath here is going to be the daughter's ray of sunshine, we still have to help him."

"Help him with what?" Tray asks curiously.

"We need to keep tabs on the others," Knott explains, "there's a lot of Marines here with bad blood between them and the Sangheilis, I'm sure word may spread about what is happening and a lot of people won't be happy about it," he pauses to look at Jonah and Tray, "so we're going to act as body guards around Heath and his date, if someone gets too crazy, we need to either get the lovebirds out of there or escort the disrupter outside."

"There has to be over a hundred guys here," Jonah reasons, "how do you suggest we act as bodyguards against that?"

"Go to Command?" Tray asks in a somewhat hopeful voice.

"No good" Knott shakes his head, "they might want to cancel the date or worse, postpone the ball and then we'll have a small riot. Marines are your best friends or your worst enemies after all."

Jonah shakes his head, "The way you're making it sound it's almost like we're taking part in something illegal," he suddenly smiles, "boy what a thrill."

"Do you know anyone who could help?" Knott questions the Staff Sergeant, "people who could side with us and help keep the peace?"

Jonah shrugs, "a few, not too willing but if we use the right words then they'll get it."

"There's no way to keep this from command though," Mi interrupts, "especially since there will be officers at the dance."

"So either way we'll be discovered," Jade states.

Knott sighs before answering, "Right…we better get our story straight then."

"We're going to tell them?" Derek asks in a fearful tone. Telling his Commanding Officer he's going to have a highly ranked alien princess for a date isn't something he is very eager to talk about.

"Not until tomorrow," Knott assures him, "by then it will be too late to do anything about it, they have to go with it."

Mi shakes her head, "You're devious Corporal, why were you never promoted?"

"Because I wanted to do some good in the world Sergeant," Knott replies with a smile before saying, "now we should probably get Derek ready-"

"On it!" Jade suddenly jumps up and grabs Derek's shoulder and starts tugging him along.

"By the time I'm through, you'll be irresistible Heath," she says gleefully.

"Are you serious!?" Derek demands a she tries to struggle out of her hold on him, "a minute ago you were trying to kill me!"

"You suggested it," she says smugly, "now let's get you cleaned up."

"But the dance isn't until tomorrow night!"

Jade sighs, "I know, twenty four hours? Well I guess I can at least get you to look presentable by then."

"Hey!" but by that time she already pulled him out of the barracks and starts dragging him towards the showers.

I'm going to set a poll that will ask if you would like to see things from Alasha's point of view or just Derek's, please vote on it.