As Thomas and the other S.H.R. members rested, King Allcroft arrived at Proteus's Orbital-Castle. As to ensure that his son would not stop him in his path, he waited until Proteus departed from it so he could go see Lady if she was there. As he then docked his shuttle at the port, he looked at a charm necklace that was in his hand that had a dark pink gem upon it. As he looked at it, a memory from years ago flashed through his mind, one where Thomas had visited during one of Lady's birthdays. As the 9 year old princess opened the box that her betrothed handed to her, Lady gasped at what she saw inside.
Lady: (memory) A charm necklace?!
Thomas: (memory) yeah. I wanted to give it to you as something to help hold our wishes, hopes and memories in.
As Lady then smiled she hugged Thomas and giggled cheerfully as he just smiled. When the memory flash ended, King Allcroft placed the necklace inside the same box it was put in 9 years prior, before exiting the shuttle and entering the Orbital-Castle. Once he was inside, King Allcorft waited for Annie to return with the okay to enter. Once she did, the king followed the handmaiden into one of the rooms to chat. As he looked around, King Allcroft recognized some of the flowers.
King Allcroft: These are Sodor flowers.
Annie: Well yes. They are. Though some may say that they're unsafe, these ones seem to be perfectly fine.
King Allcroft: Hmm. I see. (looks at Annie) Anyway, you seem to know quite a lot about Sodor's plants. Did you learn about them from a resident of the Island?
As she heard this question, Annie became oddly nervous.
Annie: U-uh, w-why w-would I-I l-learn f-from s-such u-unkind p-people?
King Allcroft: Because you and Clarabel were there with Lady during her goodwill visit and when you were aboard the Brighton Star with Thomas Billinton.
As Annie then continued to hear the facts, she became more and more nervous.
Annie: u-um, I-I n-never h-heard s-such a-a n-name.
King Allcroft: Oh really? Well, I guess, I better go and find Burnett and double check that.
Then as she heard this, Annie gritted her teeth and began to let the cat out of the bag.
Annie: Ok, fine yes! We did meet a sudrain named Thomas Billinton and we were friends with him on the Brighton Star, but, I had to keep it a secret for Princess Strea is speaking on Lady's behalf while she was in a coma.
As the king heard this, his eyes widened.
King Allcroft: Wait a moment, Lady was in a coma?
Annie: Yes, but she's awake now.
King Allcroft: Hmm. I see. May I see her?
As Annie tried her best to say no, she couldn't deny the king's request for he and his daughter had a deep bond. As King Allcroft then entered into the room where she was, Lady's eyes widened as she saw her father.
Lady: Father?
King Allcroft: (as he sat next to Lady) Hello again Lady. How have you been feeling?
Lady: (sighs) Good I guess, but my memory is still a bit fuzzy.
King Allcroft: I see. (sighs) (as he pulled the box out of his pocket) Anyway, I've brought you something.
As he then handed the box to her, Lady opened it to find the charm necklace that was given to her 9 years prior. As she then picked it up, Lady's eyes widened as the near forgotten memories of her childhood with Thomas, along with the ones during her time with the S.H.R. all flashed and came back to her. As Lady then dropped the necklace, she gripped onto her father's arm tightly feeling frightened.
Lady: (Breathing heavily) I-I remember. The war that was started because of me, and Thomas being hurt and blinded and needing help. Along with the memories I made with him during our childhood. All from the very first day we met to when we had to forget and to when we found each other again. (sobs) How can I be so cruel to my betrothed? For all this time, he must have suffered over my disappearance.
As King Allcroft then hugged his daughter to try to comfort her, all the S.H.R. members of the Brighton Star were all sleeping soundly when an alarm sounded. As Thomas and his friends then rushed into the commanding station with their uniforms on, Howard told them the situation.
Howard: We apparently got enemies on the way! Everyone get to your mechs and use the lauchguns we have here. They are compatible with what you got!
And so as the S.H.R. then launched into space they all got into position to snipe the enemies as they go by. However, as they fired, Percy and Toby found it hard to get a hit.
Percy: Argh! I can't get a hit!
Toby: It's because of the gravity flux. It's making it impossible to get a hit.
As Toby then said that, another shot fired and hit the first mech and then the next one and then next. As Percy saw this, he wondered who got 3 hits in a row, until a familiar voice gave him his answer.
???: (over comm) Mech: 001, commencing my attack.
Percy: Holy cow! It was Thomas who got those hits!
As Thomas then fired again and again, he took down more and more imperial mechs. As the prince then fired at another mech, the pilot inside saw the rounds and evaded them. As Thomas saw this he was surprised.
Thomas: (in mind) That one dodged them?! I best try again.
And so, as Thomas continued to try again, the imperial mech dodged it again. As Thomas analysed what data he saw, he began to wonder the ability of the mech he was fighting.
Thomas: Is he doing it because of speed? Wait no... not speed, but, maybe predictions! I'd better check the database that we were given.
As Thomas then looked up the ability of the mech in the database, he gasped at who he saw under the pilot's name, as the imperial pilot gasped upon seeing the color of Thomas's mech.
Thomas: It's you!
???: (gasps) A blue mech?! But it can't be.
Thomas: I've been hoping that I wouldn't have to fight you bird, but, it appears that wouldn't be the case.
And so as the two continued to fight, more and more imperial mechs went down. As the opponent of Thomas then noticed this and swerved around the prince's mech, he then turned around and flew away as Thomas recalled the data on the mech he was fighting to record into his ocular implant.
Thomas: That golden mech is known as Visus-Posterum. Latin for future sight. It's not an imperial mech, but one of the Allcroft family, which is currently owned and piloted by Lady's older brother, Proteus Allcroft.
As Proteus flew back the way he came with the group of his following him, he recounted an earlier chat he had with Annie and Clarabel while Lady was still asleep.
Annie: (memory) Oh the blue mech? That's a training unit. The boy who pilots those only likes them and uses only them.
Clarabel: (memory) Yes. Not once had he used any of the non-training ones. He also apparently had a strong bond with the princess during her time on the Brighton Star. His name is...
Proteus: (present) Thomas Billinton. So, you are alive. (smiles) I'll certainly enjoy our next round together.
To be continued...