Author's Note:

Hello, wonderful readers! Here's chapter two of TFC! It's much shorter than the opening chapter, but I hope it's just as good, if not better. :D I'm always looking to improve myself! By the way, just a head's up that you guys aren't gonna like Baron in this one...sorry XD

Thank you so much for the kind reviews on Chapter 1! If you all could continue to drop reviews, that would be much appreciated! Constructive criticism helps me improve, and words of encouragement help fuel my fire to keep writing!

Enjoy!

I do not own Sym-Bionic Titan. All credit goes to Genndy Tartakovsky.


In an instant, the white light faded from their vision, and was replaced with the sight of a planet torn apart by war. As they entered Galalunian atmosphere, the four of them looked out their windows in horror.

It was safe to walk freely in the ship, so they all got out of their seats to get a better look. Ilana gasped slightly, her eyes filling with tears. "This isn't home...this is something from my nightmares..." she said softly, her tears now running down her cheeks.

Lance, standing next to her, noticed this. After only a moment's deliberation, he moved. 'To heck with distancing myself. She needs support right now.' he thought.

Falling into now familiar habits, he put a comforting arm around Ilana's waist, holding her close. He hated seeing her like this, but he knew it was inevitable. He fully expected the planet to look as it currently did; he was a soldier, after all. He'd seen these types of scenarios more than he cared to admit.

Kimmy had a stunned look on her face. She was barely able to formulate a single sentence. "...I didn't think it would be this bad".

Octus took her hand in his, knowing full well what kind of shock she must be in. This was Kimmy's first real and up-close experience with war; the reality of it was bound to greatly affect her. After all, conditions such as these gave PTSD to grown men trained and conditioned for situations like this; never mind a young woman who had lived a quiet and sheltered life, and knew nothing of strife and bloodshed.

After a few minutes of cruising, a light began to flash. Everyone's heads whipped around to the control panel.

"Everyone, sit down and strap yourself in. we've got company." Lance said to the crew. He and Octus rushed to the controls, taking the ship off auto-pilot. Ilana and Kimmy scrambled to their seats, securing themselves within seconds.

Only an instant later, the two boys were steering the ship through an onslaught of enemy forces and fire. Lance and Octus were struggling to keep the Mutraddi fighters off their trail.

The chase lasted for miles, enemy aircraft being destroyed behind them, one after another, thanks to the boys' exceptional piloting skills; the fighters attempting to dodge trees, ledge, hills; anything that would allow their target to slip away.

The chase lasted for 20 minutes, and while the four were making good progress, the two pilots of the ship were starting to get worried. They were nearing the coordinates preset into their pod – the coordinates that would reunite them with their allies – and Lance didn't want any witnesses to the landing location.

In a final attempt to rid themselves of the last remaining tailing ship, Lance unstrapped himself from his co-pilot seat. "Octus, land the ship." was all he said before he ran to and opened the side door, jumped out of the aircraft, and activated his Manus armor; Octus closing the door behind him.

Ilana looked out the side window, searching for Lance. She saw him in the distance, his sword slicing through the pilot's window of the enemy ship; taking out the last Mutraddi tracker and the ship exploding in the process. He took some minor damage, but after the smoke from the explosion cleared, she saw him flying after them, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

They had already passed over the capital city, and had flown over the mountain range located a couple hundred miles behind the palace.

Octus landed the ship in a large forest beyond the mountains, stopping in a thick grove. Lance touched down shortly after.

Once the ship was securely on the ground, the three exited the aircraft, relieved to be on solid ground once again.

Lance de-activated his Manus armor, and walked over to the group. "Is everyone alright?", he asked.

If looks could kill, Ilana would have shot him dead with the glare she gave him. He raised one dark, slender eyebrow in questioning confusion.

"Yes, we're fine, but what were you thinking?! What would we have done if something had happened to you?" Ilana scolded. "Don't you know you worry us...worry me...when you do stuff like that? Don't be so reckless." she asked, her voice becoming much quieter.

Lance's eyes softened as he looked at her worried expression. "I'm sorry. I know I'm reckless sometimes, but I've been through situations much more dangerous than that, and your safety is top priority to me. You wouldn't have been safe if we had witnesses to our landing location...Actually, none of us would have been safe. I did what I had to do, Ilana. This is my job." Lance said gently, giving her a small, reassuring smile.

Ilana forced herself to calm down. 'I did what I had to do.' She knew that, she really did. It just wasn't a fact that was easy for her to accept. It hadn't been at the start of their 'arrangement' back on earth, and it still wasn't now. She didn't want people to put themselves in harm's way, just to protect her.

She gave a small nod in response before walking back to the other two, Lance in tow. "So, when will our rendezvous party be here to help transport all of the cargo we brought with us?" she asked.

Lance was thinking the same thing. It wasn't safe for them to stay long. He was positive the Mutraddi were probably attempting to track them as they spoke.

Suddenly, a voice came from the surrounding woods, "We've been waiting for you, Princess."

Lance spun on his heels as his body tensed; he knew that voice. It was a voice that belonged to a person he despised, second only on his hate list to Modula.

"Baron..." Lance ground out through gritted teeth.

Sure enough, a slender young man with short blond hair and a long, pointy nose emerged from the shadow of the tree line. "Good to see you, Lance...It's been too long. My, my, look at you. You're all grown up. Although, I am as well, I suppose." Baron said, a smirk painted on his face, and eyes narrowed on his old classmate.

It had been an easy 10 years since they had seen each-other face-to-face, and the distain for one another felt as fresh as if their last fight had been yesterday.

Ilana looked at Lance, noticing he was a hair's breath away from snapping. Seeing this, she acted quickly to diffuse the situation. "Lieutenant Baron, I presume?" Ilana asked in her sweet, practiced royal tone.

Baron forfeited his glaring contest with Lance to face the Princess. "Yes, princess. I was sent by the king. I have brought a few men and carts with me to help transport the cargo. We must move quickly, for I'm sure the Mutraddi are on your trail as we speak." Baron answered, giving a small, reverent smile to the princess.

"I thank you, Lieutenant." Ilana said, a small smirk emerging onto her features. "If that is the case, then, please do stop antagonizing my bodyguard, and begin unloading the ship. I am ready to move whenever you and your men are." She finished.

Lance looked at her, gratefulness in his eyes. He had told her all about Baron and their shared past. She knew how much suffering and pain Baron had put Lance through, so she was not about to go easy on him.

Baron stood there for a moment, stunned by her defense of his old rival, before regaining his composure and bowing to her. After which, he called his men, and they began unloading the ship.

It only took them about ten minutes to procure everything from inside the aircraft. "Please, follow me, your highness." Baron said as he led the way through the woods to the resistance's hideout.

EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F - EF-F

As they walked through the shadow-laden forest, sunlight was becoming rarer by the minute. Everyone had been walking for at least an hour-or so Lance estimated-and the setting sun was not helping matters.

The group was almost to the point of not being able to see at all, when Baron took a sudden right turn, and walked straight into a thick row of brier bushes. He cleared away the bushes for the princess, and proceeded to rearrange them once everyone was through.

After the last person crossed beyond the threshold, everyone came to a large boulder leaning up against the side of the mountain.

Baron and his crew spread out, scanning the area. Once the all-clear was given, Baron switched on his Manus armor, and moved the large boulder out of the way. Behind it appeared a dark tunnel travelling deep into the mountain.

"Sergeant Jackson, would you please take the lead and escort the princess?" Baron asked with his now robotic voice.

Jackson, a man of early middle age, about 6 ft. tall with short, light brown hair, brown eyes, and a 5 o'clock shadow, gave a nod, and made his way to the front of the group.

Ilana glanced first down the dark tunnel, then back at Lance. Their eyes met, and he started walking toward her. He knew of her fear of the dark, which had started after the Shaman attacked them through their sub-conscious minds all those years ago on earth. Ever since then, Ilana had slept with her curtains open to let the moonlight into her room.

He moved through the line of people, quietly advancing toward Her. Once he caught up to her, he gently took her hand, and gave it a light squeeze to reassure her that he was there, and she was fine.

She gave him a small smile, and a gentle squeeze back to let him know she was okay. He nodded, and released her hand.

One after another, they stepped into the darkness.

When the final person was inside the entrance, there was a loud noise, like something solid and thick scraping against a hard surface; then, everything went black.

There was a brief flash of light from the de-activation of a Manus armor, and then, "Hey, Lance," Baron called out. "Move over here, and help me cover the rear." He said, having moved the large boulder back into place; sealing off the entrance to the tunnel.

Lance glared at him, ready with a sharp retort. To his surprise, however, Ilana stepped into the soon-to-be argument between the two young men. "Lieutenant, I must remind you: Corporal Lance is my bodyguard. Therefore, his place is by my side until we reach our destination. Do you contest that? Should I speak to my father?" She asked, one eyebrow raised in questioning defiance.

Baron's face went slightly pale. Thinking quickly, he gave a smooth reply. "Of course not, princess. I requested Lance, because I know that he and I are the most dependable soldiers in a fight, should something happen. I was thinking of your safety, princess. If you feel safer with him by your side, however, of course I have no objection." Baron said, giving a dashing smile accompanied by a bow.

Ilana smirked to herself. "Thank you for your consideration, Lieutenant, and please do address my personnel more politely in the future, if you would." She said in a sweet yet threatening tone.

"Of course, princess. I do apologize." Baron said, choking back every word. 'Spoiled noble brat...' he thought.

Ilana then turned back to face the leader of the precession. "Jackson, please continue. I apologize for delaying you."

"Not at all, princess. Please, this way." Jackson said as he began to lead the group down the dark passage; only the light from their communicators guiding their path.

From the back, Baron was glaring holes through Lance's body. 'I can't believe it. First, that stupid orphan steals my Medal of Excellence, ruining my early graduation from the academy, and entrance into the royal guard at the youngest recorded age in Galalunian history. Now, he's receiving special treatment from the Royal Family!' Baron thought angrily, his fists clenched. 'I think it's time to remind the Corporal that he's back home, now...starting with getting him back into a uniform. Earth clothes are not acceptable attire here, and I'm positive that once he's back in his Galalunian uniform, his behavior will start changing. It'll be a good, every-minute reminder of where he stands in relation to the crown. In the meantime, I need to look for weak points. What bad habits did he pick up during his three years spent on Earth...?'

As Baron was pondering his thoughts, his eyes picked up on a very slight movement. It was so dark in the cave that no one should have been able to see anything beyond a foot or two in front of them, but he was positive his eyes observed correctly: the Corporal took the princess's hand...and she wasn't rebuking him.

He noticed her posture relax, as though she had been tense from worry or anxiety. She leaned ever so slightly closer to Lance, and he began to walk a tad bit closer to her. He saw them share quick eye contact, and he caught a glimpse of the look on Lance's face. 'Gotcha...' Baron thought, a serpentine smile appearing on his face. 'It looks like the orphan's forgotten his place, and become a little too close with the princess. Judging by the look in his eyes, I'm thinking his affections go beyond what's legal here. I'll have to help him remember the consequences...'

Baron was very pleased now. If one hadn't been carefully studying their subject – as he had been doing since they arrived – the small gestures would have gone completely unnoticed; especially in the darkness of the cave. Thank goodness he had been paying close attention. Now, he knew he had a foothold.

The cruel, eerie smile on his face grew. 'Let's see how you handle this situation, then, Lance...'