The next morning, Linda was up at 6:00 and out of the palace by 7:00. She had quickly left a note to her Aunt, explaining everything, before she left. A guard was waiting at his post, the main gate, when Linda passed him. "Wow, you guys sure get up early," she told him. "Yes, Miss" the solider said. "It’s our duty to protect the royal family." "Ok," Linda shrugged. "I’m on my way to meet Justin." Linda eyed the guard. "You wouldn’t know anything about Justin’s surprise, would you?" "Um," the guard said. "Come on, please," Linda said, giving him a puppy dog look. The solider smiled. "Alright," he said. "All I can tell you is that Justin was a bit worried about meeting someone this morning. I have no idea what your surprise could be." "Hmm," Linda said. "Thanks anyway. I better go, see ya!" "Goodbye" the solider yelled, as Linda ran off. Linda hurried down the path and then paused when the path curved away from the forest. She decided to take a short cut through the woods. She really wanted to know what Justin’s surprise was. Meanwhile, at the Information Center, Justin was waiting outside, with Austin and a stranger. The stranger was wearing a Martion uniform. The three men were in a deep conversion. They seemed to be talking about Linda’s new mission. What the men didn’t know, was that there was someone watching them. The Information Center was at the edge of the woods, so it was easy to spy on it. Linda was walking through the woods, when she saw the Information Center coming up in front of her. She also noticed someone standing by a tree. She quickly stepped closer and then said, "Hey, you! Freeze!" Linda took out her laser gun from her back pocket and aimed it at the stranger. "Linda?" the stranger asked. "Hey, it’s me!" "What?" Linda said and took a better look. "Oh! Danny! Sorry, I couldn’t see who you were." Danny walked closer, so Linda could see him better. The two grinned at each other. "When did you get back? And where are Bobby and Kira?" Linda asked. "I came back with Justin," Danny said. "Bobby and Kira stayed behind to make sure everything was alright." "Ok," Linda said. Linda understood what he had said. Even though two different trainers trained the four of them, they had the same rules. After a mission was completed, someone stayed behind to make sure there were no loose ends. Linda smiles again. "How have you been?" she asked. Out of all the members of the group, Danny was Linda’s best friend. The two had grown up together and had known each other all their lives. "Let me think," Danny said, looking at Linda. "Um, great. Let’s see, I’m still two inches taller then you, so everything must be right in the world." "Ha ha," Linda said, but he was right. Linda was 5’6 and Danny was 5’8. Danny loved to tease Linda for being short. At first glance, you wouldn’t think they were friends. After all, Linda was a Princess. Danny, on the other hand, was just your average kid mostly. Danny had light brown hair, cut into a sufer cut. Danny lived with his Aunt, and he spent most of his time hanging out at the gym or on the streets. One thing about Danny is that he is very street smart. Linda had actually met him when she was little. She had been wondering the streets with her Mom when she had gotten lost. That’s when she met Danny and the two were friends after a moment. The two had walked all over the city, looking at the different toy stores. Linda’s Mom found them when they stopped to look at a toy in a window. She was so happy to find her little girl; she bought them both the toy. "What are you doing’?" Linda asked. "Justin asked me to meet him here," Danny said. "I came her to meet him and he’s talking to someone of the Martion army." "Well, maybe its Bobby’s dad," Linda offered. "No, I don’t think so," Danny said. "I think Bobby’s dad is a General. This guy looks more like a Captain." "Hmm," Linda said. Danny was right. Their friend, Bobby, was from Mars and his father was the General of the Martian army. This man’s uniform was different then the General’s uniform. "Let’s get closer," Linda offered. "Ok," Danny agreed. The two crept closer, so they could here what the three men were talking about. "How old are these children?" the Captain asked. "Well," Justin said. "The Princess is 15 and so is Danny." "And you think this boy and Princess Linda will be able to handle this mission?" the Captain said. "I don’t know about that boy," Austin said. "My Princess can. I trained her myself and I know she can handle it. Personally, I don’t see why that boy has to go." "Sir," Justin said, frowning at Austin. "That boy, is named Danny. I happen to train him myself and he is very good. He happens to be 2nd in command and is 2nd strongest in the group. He and Linda make a wonderful team." "This isn’t you normal mission, commander," the Captain said. "I happen to agree with Lt. Austin here." "Boy," Danny whispered. "Nobody is cutting me any slack except Justin." Linda smiled. "Atleast Justin is on your side," Linda whispered and looked at the Captain. "I don’t trust that captain." "Could that have anything to do with how much we like Bobby’s Dad?" Danny asked, with a smile. Linda thought for a moment. When the two of them had met Bobby’s Dad, it wasn’t pretty. Personally, Linda didn’t have anything against Bobby’s Dad, but he didn’t like her. Martians were known for having a dislike of Moonlings. Linda wasn’t sure why, but it had something to do with a war a long time ago. Back then, Venus had sided with the Moon, so he didn’t like Linda’s friend, Kira, either. Linda shook her head. "No, it doesn’t have anything to do with that," she said. "I can’t put my finger on it, but I don’t trust him. It’s just a feeling I have." "Alright," Danny said. "We just have to watch out for then." Danny looked at the three men. "Let’s go meet Justin. Maybe he can explain some stuff." They didn’t have to do anything, because at that moment Justin noticed them. "Hey you two, come over here!" he yelled to them. The two teens came quickly. Justin turned back to the Captain. "Sir, this would be Princess Linda, and this is Danny." Justin turned to the teens. "Guys, this is Captain Please of the Martian army. He is here on very important business. We were about to have a meeting and we would like you to come." "Yes, so let’s go already," Austin said. "We don’t have all day." "Shall we go in, then?" Captain Please asked. Justin smiled to Danny and Linda; to show them that it couldn’t be that bad. The two had started to look worried. Justin didn’t have a clue what was going on, but he figured it must be about Linda’s new mission. The five of them walked into the Information Center. They went to a conference room, which wasn’t that big. All it had was a long table with six chairs set up around it. "Hey, did we get new chairs in here?" Linda asked. "They’re very comfy," Danny said, sitting down. "That isn’t why we are here," Austin snapped at Danny. "Everyone, just have a seat." "Why do I have the feeling I won’t like this?" Linda whispered to Danny. "Oh, I don’t know," Danny said. "Maybe because Justin, Austin, and a dude from Mars are all in the same room? This should be fun." Danny looked at the Captain. "Hey, did you catch his name? Captain Please, please!" Danny said. He and Linda started to laugh. "This isn’t a laughing matter," Austin said, sharply. "This is important." Then, Austin turned to Captain Please. "Why don’t you tell us what this is all about." "Good idea," Captain Please said. "I like your thinking Lt." Then the Captain looked at everyone. "Everyone, I have some important news. Princess Linda, your next mission is very important. For that reason, Justin and Danny will be going with you." "Really!" the teens said at the same time and grinned. "What a minute." Linda said. "Why is this mission so important?" "If you let me continue," Captain Please said, "I’ll tell you." Captain Please looked at everyone. "Ok," Linda said. "This trip won’t be as easy as you think," Captain Please said. "The Earth in that System has a few problems. You should already know that they have colonies in space. The problem is their government." "That’s right," Justin agreed. "Their government is run by an organization called Oz. They control Earth and the colonies by force." "Correct," Austin said. "Here’s something else. It won’t take long for them to figure out a way to explore different Solar Systems. The question is, do we want them to?" "What do you mean?" Danny asked. "We can’t just go and say, ‘Now you guys must stay on your planet." Linda backed him up. "Danny’s right," she said. "We can’t stop them if they want to." "Be quiet you two!" Austin commanded. "Why don’t you hear our choices before you fight back!" Danny and Linda nodded and kept quite. "Good," Captain Please said. "We have a few choices you might want to know about. First, we leave them alone and see what happens. Next, take away all their technology. The problem there is they will get it back again. Lastly, we could blow them up. You know, start a war. No problem there." "What!?!" Danny, Linda, and Justin yelled. "I highly think #3 is wrong," Justin said. "There must be something else we can do." "You can’t just kill millions of people because you’re scared of them!" Linda said. "There is no way I will let you!" "Linda’s right," Danny said. "We won’t let that happen." "We didn’t think so," Austin said. "Those are only the Council’s ideas." "We have come up with another choice," Captain Please said. He and Austin stood up and leaned against the wall. "You give the planet to Scorpion." There was a moment of silence, but then it was broken by Danny. "Are you guys totally loony! We can’t give it to him!" Captain Please and Austin let out a laugh. Then, Austin punched the wall. Suddenly, Justin, Linda, and Danny were trapped in their chairs. "What’s going on?" Justin asked. "That last choice wasn’t a request," Captain Please said. "That planet is very important to Master Scorpion," Austin said. "What?" Linda said. "Hey Austin, you’re on our side, remember?" "Not anymore," Danny said. "Take a better look." Danny was right. Linda took a long look at Austin. His eyes had a certain red glow to them. He had a wild look on his face, but at the same time, he looked calm. Captain Please didn’t look much better. "Well?" Captain Please asked. "You don’t want to plead for your lives?"