"Commander! Commander!" a young officer yelled as he ran after Justin.

""Commander, I have important news concerning the Princess."


        "Well what do you have for me?" Justin asked as he turned to face

the young officer.


        "Well, we have just found out which planet Scorpion is heading to,"

the young officer replied. "He is heading to System 195. That system is said

to be our sister system. If you don’t mind me asking, what does that mean?"


        "What’s your first name, officer?" Justin asked.


        "Um, Nick sir," officer Nick replied. 


        "Well then, Nick," Justin said. "System 195 is our sister system for

a good reason. System 195 has all the same planets as we do. The only

difference is, people only live on the Earth, and we don’t have an Earth

anymore. Instead of living on other planets, they have many people living in

colonies. Understand?"


        "Yes sir!" Nick answered. 


        "Is that all?" Justin asked.


        "Um, no," Nick replied. "It seems like Scorpion might take over that

organization called Oz. You know about Oz, right?"


        "Yes. We’ve had an eye on them for some time. That group controls

Earth and their colonies. Every since rebels appeared, we’ve left them alone,

to see who will win. That could be trouble if that evil Scorpion takes

control." Justin said.


        "Yes, I agree," Nick said. "That’s why we think Princess Linda

should go to Earth. We as in the Council, of course. I’m just here to give

you the news.’


        "I understand," Justin said. "Set up the information machine for

information on Earth, as well as Oz. I will see that Princess Linda will be

able to leave in two days. That is all."


        "Yes, sir!" Nick said. The two saluted, and then started off in

different directions.


*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   



        Before meeting that officer, Justin had been in a good mood, but

now his mood was dampened. When he found the Princess, he would have to tell

to get ready for a new mission. Justin stopped for a moment and remembered

when Linda was a little kid, maybe about four. That’s when her training to

become the best warrior began. Justin smiled, thinking how cute and happy she

used to be. Justin shook his head. "Stop it," he said to himself. "The faster

she learns about her new mission, the better prepared she’ll be." Justin

started walking again, but he couldn’t help thinking about her. 


        ‘Oh well,’ Justin thought to himself. ‘There’s no use thinking about

it. There’s nothing you can do about it.’ Justin was right, of course. Linda

was born with a special mark on her arm, making her the chosen one. That

meant it was her destiny to rid the world of all evil. She had three friends

who fought at her side, but in the end, it was Linda who fought the most. It

was her who had the most dangerous missions. 




        That greeting didn’t fool Justin. Suddenly, the training dojo came

up in front of Justin. Justin opened the door and walked in. Justin walked

into a huge room. Linda was in the middle of the room, fighting in virtual

reality.   Austin was by the wall watching.  Justin motioned to Austin and he

shut the program off.  Linda stopped in mid-kick.  She quickly looked around

to see why the battle had disappeared.  When she saw Justin, she saluted and

then gave her VR visor to Austin.


        "What brings you here?"  Austin greeted Justin.  "A friendly visit,

perhaps?"  Austin gave Justin a fake, friendly smile. Austin was no friend of

his and Austin knew it.  Justin and Austin had been in the same army school. 

Justin had always gotten better grades than Austin had.  When they both were

up for Commander, Justin won and Austin was just a Lieutenant.  Justin was

put in charge of Linda’s three friends, and Austin was put in charge of

Linda.  Justin didn’t approve of how Austin pushed Linda to prove he was the

better trainer.  In fact, Austin made Linda train all day, everyday, at a

hard level.  She only got days off if it was very important.  In all honesty,

Justin thought Austin was a jerk.


        "Not today," Justin said, giving the other two a grim look.  "I have

a new mission for Linda."  Justin turned and looked straight at Linda.  "I

need you to learn about the planet Earth, in System 195.  Scorpion is heading

there.  We think he might take over an organization called Oz.  It would be

useful if you looked up the information about them, too.  I would like you to

leave in two days.  Alright?"


        "Yes, sir!"  Linda said, with out thinking.  Justin thought about

how Austin trained Linda.  Justin just shook his head, and nodded towards

Austin.


        "Very well then," Austin said. "Goodbye." Justin frowned, and then

left. As soon as Austin was sure had left, he started walking to a computer

on the other side of the room. Linda froze for a second, not sure what to do.

"What are you doing?" he asked her.


        "Well sir," Linda said slowly. "Should I continue my VR training or

go learn about my new mission?"


        Austin let out a sigh, "Continue the fight, of course! All that junk

they tell you won’t matter if you can’t fight! Now move it!" he yelled. 


        "Well," Linda said, with a frown. "I only have today and tomorrow. I

know how to fight. What I need is to learn about Earth."


        "Silly me," Austin said. "I thought I was in charge, not Justin. You

do as I say. Justin is just a wimp who knows only books. It is my job to

teach you and show you right from wrong. Here goes: I’m always right and

Justin is always wrong."


        "Oh you’re funny," Linda said and frowned again. "Justin is not

always wrong and he is not a wimp. He knows what he is doing. Remember that

he’s in charge of my friends. We’re the best fighters around."


        "But who fights the best?" Austin asked. "And how many times do I

have to tell you, you don’t need friends! Friends are just people who can be

used against you by enemies. I thought you already learned that, or didn’t

you?"


        Linda thought back to when she was younger, about eight. She was

fighting an evil guy named, Overlord, on the planet Earth in her Solar

System. She was there on a trip with her parents. While her parents were in

meetings, she had made many friends. Then Overlord had came to fight and she

lost. Not only that, she lost her friends and her parents. The whole planet

was destroyed. "Alright, you win," Linda said.


        "Of course I win," Austin said. " Now continue your training. Later,

when you go jogging, do a few extra laps, and extra sit ups and push-ups.

Also, do a few extra battles in the VR trainer."


        "Ok, I get it," Linda said. "I’m on it!" Linda quickly got to work.

She had a lot to do. She really couldn’t stand Austin at times. She was going

to enjoy some time off.


She didn’t finish until 9:36 P.M. "Man," Linda said, as she walking home.

"It’s to late to study. I’m gonna have to study all day tomorrow." Linda kept

walking to her palace. 


        "Won’t you ever let one of the guards walk you home?" a voice asked,

as Linda walked by the main gate to her palace. "It could be dangerous at

night."


        Linda knew who it was right away. "I can take care of myself." Linda

said and smiled. "Hey Justin!"


        "Hi Linda!" Justin said. 


        "Sorry I wasn’t that nice before," Linda said. "Austin tends to get

mean when I’m really nice to you."


        "Don’t worry about it," Justin said, and he smiled. "I know how

Austin is." Justin looked at Linda. "How have you been?"


        "Same as always," Linda answered. "How about you? Last I heard, you

were off on a mission with Bobby, Kira, and Danny."


        "Oh yea," Justin said, looking at his feet for a second. "Um, well

we’re back." Linda let out a laugh. Justin looked at his watch. "Oh, I have

to go. It’s late. I want you to go to bed. Meet me at the information center.

I have a surprise for you. Meet me there early. Now off to bed, young lady.

Goodnight."


        "Ok, goodnight," Linda said, smiling. Justin watched her go. Ever

since her parents had died, Justin had watched over Linda. She was like the

daughter he never had. Justin checked his watch again. It really was late for

someone who had to get up early the next morning.



*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *