Author's Note: Sorry about the delay in publishing this! I actually thought I had chapter 7 written yesterday, but the characters informed me that they didn't like the flow of the story! Needless to say, when the characters talk, an author should listen. Please enjoy this chapter.

Myra the Sark – glad you liked the 'suspense' bit in the last chapter. Yes, there is a story within the story!

Before the Party – Part One

It was late at night, and Larmina was heading down to the hanger bay, where she knew Pidge would be working. Earlier at dinner she had heard something that bothered her, but she needed time to check it out. She had now had the time, and what she found out was the final straw for her with Daniel's secret.

Larmina wanted to talk to Pidge about what she had decided, but she also wanted to see him. It had been several days since he had kissed her, and every time she thought about it she smiled. Larmina knew he felt the same way, both from how he looked at her, and some of the text messages they had exchanged. He had in fact told her that he would be working late tonight, and she decided to take advantage of it.

The hanger bay was dark, but she could see light coming from one of the alcoves, and she knew that was where Pidge was. When she stepped in she saw that his back was to her, and he was entering some data into a holoscreen. Larmina moved stealthily until she was right up next to him, and put her hands around his shoulder.

Before she realized what had happened, he had her pinned against the wall and was kissing her with intensity that was overwhelming her. Larmina was aware of his hands exploring her body, while his tongue was deep in her mouth, with her tongue wrestling with it. He broke off the kiss to get some air, and then started kissing and licking her neck, while his hands roamed even further on her body.

Larmina had her hands in his hair, and was pressing him tighter into her neck as she arched against him. She couldn't believe the feelings that were cresting in her body, all starting in her core that was aching badly. Larmina tried to press further against him, but she was already fully against him and just ended up moving against his groin.

Pidge growled in her ear, which thrilled her and made her move even more, enjoying the reaction she was getting from him. Pidge was amazed at how she was responding to him, and he realized that if he didn't stop it now he might not be stopping!

"Well that should teach you not to sneak up on someone with ninja blood in them!" He told her, still holding her tight. Larmina looked at his eyes, which were narrowed and glittering green sparks. She laughed and said "Hey, if this is the kind of response I get, I will be sneaking up on you a whole lot more!"

Pidge looked at her, all flushed and breathing hard, several pieces of hair softly curling around her forehead. It took a great deal of will power to step back and say "It would be enjoyable, but I don't know how much work I would get done!" Larmina got a teasing smile on her face and said "Wouldn't you rather do this than work?"

He reached up and touched one of the pieces of her hair that had escaped from her braid. It glowed like a flame in the overhead light. "This definitely, but we would want somewhere more private, preferably with a locking door." Pidge told her, getting a wicked grin on his face. Larmina was enjoying being with Pidge, and suddenly the thought of somewhere more private sounded wonderful.

"Why do you smell so good?" Pidge asked, faintly smelling the floral essence. It still struck him as incongruous, that she could be so strong and smell so delicate. Larmina tilted her head and said "I think it partly has to do with being a woman, and partly with my soap." He said "No, you smell like some kind of flower, but I can't identify it!"

Larmina laughed, noticing how perplexed he looked at not being able to figure something out. She said "You need to get out in the countryside more and you would know!" Pidge said "Maybe I need someone who knows the area well to show me around? Can you think of someone who might be available?"

"I am the expert on all things Arusian, just in case you have forgotten!" Larmina told him fiercely, and he gave her a fond smile. "No, my dear, I could never forget that fact!" He pulled her against him and said "If I promise to kiss you again, will you tell me what the flower is?"

Larmina was having trouble getting her thoughts together now that she was being held tight in his arms. She remembered the morning in the gym, when she had ended up pinned under him, and how strong he was. At the back of her mind she was starting to think that Pidge shouldn't be messed with! That thought reminded her of why she was here.

She looked up at him and said "I'm not sure that you should kiss me again right now, because you are way too excited!" Pidge saw the contemplative look in her eyes and said "Why don't you tell me the flower, and why you really came down here?" Larmina now remembered that not only was he very strong, but also very smart!

"How do you do that?" She asked, trying to gather her thoughts and breathe. "I wish it was because of Baltan telepathically abilities, but I don't have that much." Pidge stopped, and then said "However, I can figure out when someone I care about is bothered about something, and you definitely were at dinner tonight."

Lamina looked at him when he said, and knew that he did care about her. She also knew that she cared about him, and if she had to pick between her friends or Pidge, he would win. "It is about Daniel." Larmina said, and then added "And his Grandfather." Suddenly she stopped, trying to figure out how to explain it all, and her reasons for not telling sooner.

Pidge walked her over to the other side of the room, where there was a bench. He cleared some stuff off, and they sat down. He put his arms around her, and held her saying "Does this have anything to do with why he can't pass a basic physics exam, and Vince has hacked into my computer accounts?" She sat straight up and looked at him in shock. "You've known?"

He removed his arms from her shoulders and took her hands, interlacing their fingers. He had a serious look on his face as he said "The exam part I really didn't understand, but I do know when someone hacks into the system. Not only am I a genius, but I have done a lot of hacking myself!" Pidge stopped, and then said "Vince has also been trying to hack into my text message account, but I'm keeping him out of that one, for personal reasons."

Larmina, thinking about some of the messages they had exchanged was glad that no one else was going to see them. "Oh Pidge, I've been a total fool!" She exclaimed in disgust. Pidge said "I doubt that very much. Let's start with what happened at dinner tonight, ok?" She took a deep breath and said "It is rather long and complicated."

Pidge snorted and said "Since this is Daniel we are talking about, I rather doubt it! With Daniel it comes down to 'you tell him not to do something, he does it anyway, trouble happens, he gets lectured, and then it all starts again!" Larmina thought about Pidge's statement, and realized he was right! That was Daniel's story ever since he had been on Arus. She had not understood until now just how much Pidge didn't care for it or Daniel.

Larmina said "When Keith said that Daniel had left for earth, because his Grandfather was sick, it didn't sound right, but I couldn't figure out why." Pidge looked at her, so she continued on "It took me a while to remember, but then I did! When he and Vince first came here, I was showing them around the castle, and we were in the portrait gallery. I was explaining how the pictures were of my grandparents and other family members. Vince told us about his family, but Daniel said that he had been raised by an Aunt and didn't know anything about the rest of his family."

"Daniel lied about a family emergency to get a trip to earth? Larmina, it doesn't surprise me, and I don't think that is what you were so bothered about." Pidge said, knowing there was more to come. Larmina hung her head and said "No, but it is why he did it, and the fact that it was one more lie that he was telling." Pidge put his hand under her chin and lifted it up, looking at the sadness in her eyes.

Larmina sighed "Until Daniel and Vince came to Arus I'd never had any friends. I was raised by Nanny, and was educated by governesses and tutors. But I didn't know how lonely it was until they came." She stopped, and Pidge could understand the loneliness of not having friends your own age. He said to her "You can be around people your own age, but if you don't have anything in common with them, you end up lonely too!"

She remembered some of the stories that Hunk had told her, about Pidge, and she realized that he did understand what she was talking about. Larmina smiled at him in understanding and said "Yes, I can see that you understand!" He looked at her, noticing the compassion in her eyes. It touched him, and made him realize how much he cared for her. Pidge was tempted to kiss her again, but decided he needed to get to the bottom of what was going on with Daniel.

Larmina proceeded to tell him everything, from the haggerium poising to the mind reading, and how Vince was trying to figure out what Pidge was doing to help Sven. She finished up "Daniel asked Vince and me, as his friends, not to tell, because he didn't want to be kicked off the team." Pidge was taken aback by what she said, and as much as he didn't care for Daniel, he could understand his concern.

Pidge said to her "How do you want to resolve the situation?" He was really curious to see how she was going to handle it. Larmina said in a serious tone "I want to send him a note that says I know that he lied, and that when he gets back to Arus he has 1 day to tell Keith, or I will." Pidge had to give her credit for that one. It gave Daniel the chance to redeem himself, but also showed that she wasn't going along with his deceit anymore.

He told her that, and added "I would like you to wait to send the note until he gets back to Arus, and copy Vince on it to. Also, if you could put in the note something about doing his duty as an officer and a gentleman, I would appreciate it." She looked at him, not understanding and said "I can do that, but why?"

"First off, he can think he got away with his little ploy, which will lower his defenses." Pidge stopped, and knew that Daniel would think it great that he had put one over on everyone; he could enjoy his lie before it came back to bite him. He went on "I want that part about duty in their because of the oath both those boys took when they entered the Academy."

Larmina looked at him, so he explained "When you enter the Academy you swear an oath to uphold the honor code of the Academy, as well as to carry out your duty as an officer. It is very solemn, and if you break it you will be expelled." Pidge went on "When you graduate, you take a similar oath, promising to uphold and protect the Garrison and the Galaxy."

She saw that this was a very big deal to Pidge, and she understood; she said "Rather like the coronation oath." Pidge looked at her and she said "When the new monarch is crowned, all family members bow before them, and promise to protect the monarch no matter what, even with their lives." It had been on her brain since her Aunt was to be crowned next year.

"Larmina, you will take that oath very seriously, I know." Pidge stopped, and she nodded her head, so he went on "I would never ask you to do something that would violate that oath." She said "Thank you Pidge, I know that. I know now that your oath is important to you also."

Pidge said "What Daniel and Vince are doing is violating that oath. However, if they can rectify the situation they will be forgiven." He paused and then said "I need to know if they have the character to do that. If they can't uphold the Academy oath, they won't be able to uphold the Garrison one and I don't want to serve with someone I can't trust!"

Larmina said "I'll send the note when Daniel comes back. But what about Vince hacking into your accounts? Why didn't you stop him?" Pidge got a satisfied grin on his face as he said "You can set a trap to catch the intruder and stop them right away, or you can let them take the bait and see where they lead you to. Don't worry, I will take care of him!" She looked at him, and remembered her earlier thought that he shouldn't be messed with and that he was very smart! Larmina was glad that she wasn't Vince and what Pidge had in store for him!

As she was saying good night to him he asked "You never did tell me the flower?" Larmina got a mischievous smile on her face and said "I think I'll take you for a walk in the countryside at some point, and show you!" Pidge smiled at her and said "You are rather naughty, you know!" She tossed her head and left the room.