[color=gray] [center] [img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a9/d6/80/a9d680474312dbdf51a6b74ea9937f8b.jpg[/img] [h1][color=firebrick][b][u]A Change of Plans[/u][/b][/color][/h1] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKgVLsQuXMQ&ab_channel=hRDLAhRDLA](Mood Music)[/url] [/center] Dearil looked beyond the ISS agents with a mixture of surprise and frustration. His immediate response apparently didn't please the ISS agents either as they both broadened their shoulders and prepared themselves to force Dearil to his knees. A pale hand from the shadows of the cargo bay waved them off, and the ISS agents relaxed again. Dearil looked between the two agents for a moment before turning his gaze back on the woman sitting casually atop a freshly opened crate of hyperwater. The figure was sipping from a bottle that she just so happened to help herself to, not that Dearil was about to tell her otherwise. She lowered the bottle from her lips and looked back to Dearil, an eyebrow perking up as she does, [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][b]"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by your response. I would be the last thing to expect randomly aboard my ship too, if I were you."[/b][/color] The woman stood up from the crate, and the ISS agents tensed up again. Dearil knew why. He lowered to one knee and bowed his head to the floor of his ship. [color=firebrick][b]"Princess Aurelia."[/b][/color] he said. One of the ISS agents punted him with a fist and spoke aggressively, [color=white][i]"You are to address her ONLY as 'your highness'! How dare you speak her name-"[/i][/color] Aurelia raised a hand again, [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][b]"That's enough, Marius. He dares call me by my first name, and I welcome it. This man a part of my personal detail long before you ever were. You will show him the respect he deserves."[/b][/color] Aurelia turned her emerald gaze back down onto Daeril, [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][b]"Even after all these years, I still consider you to be a friend, Daeril. Rise, there isn't any need for formalities."[/b][/color] Daeril looked up at Aurelia and breathed easy at that. He had worried that the youngest of the royal family wouldn't have forgiven him for leaving the ISS, yet there she was as forgiving as ever. It was a trait among the royal family that was unique to her and her alone. She wore a black space suit, similar to the suits worn by the ISS. But her suit was more lightly armored, and it was decorated with gold trim and impressive accoutrements befitting for a princess. Her blonde hair was tied back into a pony tail and adorned with a silver dove hairpin to hold it in place. Daeril stood again and shrugged off the hit from the ISS agent. He smiled, [color=firebrick][b]"It's good to see you again, Aurelia. But I can't help but think that our meeting here has some implications. This incognito movement for a member of the royal family is right out of the ISS handbook..."[/b][/color] he paused, [color=firebrick][b]"Are you expecting something?"[/b][/color] Aurelia sighed. She knew that Daeril would easily catch on to why she was discreetly sitting in his ship. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][b]"More of a precaution. Intelligence has been intercepting Coalition communications and they think they're planning something soon for the fleet here at Cerol. Fleet Command deemed it best to spread some chaotic information about my whereabouts, hopefully to dampen the severity of their attack with uncertainty. I'm more valuable to the Coalition alive than dead, after all."[/b][/color] Dearil nodded understandingly, but his confusion was still niggling away at him. [color=firebrick][b]"So... Why hide in a freighter then? This thing is basically defenseless against a MAS or a warship."[/b][/color] Aurelia spoke up almost immediately after he finished, [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][b]"Your next stop is the Roanoke, yes? It's currently carrying the 7th MAS Squadron of the 101st. I figured since I'm officially touring a battlegroup above the opposite hemisphere, that a small elite team like them would be more than adequate protection. But really, I could have picked any transport. I just so happened to be aboard the Hammerhand when I heard one 'Dearil Redmond' just so happened to arrive. Figured I'd take the opportunity to reunite with my old bodyguard and see how well he's adjusted to his new life."[/b][/color] That last comment made Dearil clear his throat awkwardly. The loaded state of his ship wasn't really in the most sightly condition, especially not after the Hammerhand's deck crew got their hands on it. [color=firebrick][b]"It's uh... Normally not this messy."[/b][/color] Aurelia smirked at that, [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][b]"It just needs a woman's touch. Hopefully Jenna is up to the task when you finish this rotation."[/b][/color] Daeril thought longingly of his wife. Jenna was an imperial officer, and an instructor in the royal academy where Aurelia trained. Dearil had fawned over Jenna for quite some time as he shadowed the classroom in the corner to ensure Aurelia's safety. It was the princess herself that secretly arranged for the two to meet. Dearil couldn't have been more thankful for the princess for that. [color=firebrick][b]"Ahh I'm gonna need a nanny to help keep things together once I'm back. Jenna has her hands busy enough with Kade."[/b][/color] Aurelia blinked at that, her emerald eyes wide upon hearing his words. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][b]"Oh heavens, he's a father."[/b][/color] she said breathlessly as if the universe was ending. Dearil laughed at that and stepped further into the ship. He led Aurelia to the cockpit and pointed at printed picture of his Jenna and their daughter next to the flight controls of the ship. Aurelia excitedly took the photo in her hands and examined it closely, [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][b]"Ah she's precious! I can't believe I never heard about this! When I'm on Terra next, I'm paying your wife a visit. Your baby girl needs some more auntie Auri in her life!"[/b][/color] Dearil shook his head with a big grin on his face. It was always so refreshing speaking a member of the royal family without all of the due process and formality. In truth, guarding Aurelia through her teen years really helped build up his paternal instinct. She was practically family! The unspoken, unofficial, experiment to see if Dearil had what it takes to be a guardian. He'd never say those things to anyone since... Well that'd land him locked up in the ISS stockades on Earth for the rest of his life for referring to a royal princess as an experiment. Dearil heard a voice come over the radio of his flight helmet. He recognized that voice, [color=firebrick][b]"Ah crap... Hold on, Aurelia. I need to get screamed at by the chief petty officer of the ship for loitering in his busy hangar. You can hold onto that for now."[/b][/color] he pointed at the picture of his family in her hands since it looked like she wasn't about to let go of it just yet! [color=firebrick][b]"Actually, best get strapped in back there. Seems we've got a backup of ships waiting to use this hangar. We'll be leaving shortly. Oh, and make sure Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum back there don't touch my hyperwater. Princesses only."[/b][/color] he winked and slipped into the pilot's seat. [/color]