Chapter 114

　　The Shuttle settled down onto the metal floor of the Starship`s storage hold. The Ouroboros stood next to it, towering over everything else as it rested in its restraints. The ramp slowly extended, allowing Kal and Mare to exit.

　　The Captain of the Starship was waiting for her, a cold expression on her face as she saw the Princess. Kal was confused at her appearance until he heard her speak.

　　"I request a Starship to bring me and my friends to Caledon, along with the Ouroboros." Mare said, walking up to the Captain and gesturing to Kal and the others. Cid and Ty appeared to the side, the latter looking much better. The head bandage was gone, and his skin was healed and healthy looking.

　　"Apologies, Princess. We cannot allow anyone to leave until the investigation into the attack on Terra is complete. You will have to be patient." The Captain replied.

　　"And how long will that take?" Mare asked, her arms crossed. Kal could see she was irritated with the Captain`s attitude. It was almost as if she were treating them as prisoners or suspects in the attack. But that couldn`t be&they had barely escaped with their lives.

　　There is something else happening here.` Kal thought, looking around the storage hold. There were more armed guards than he remembered there being before they left to retrieve the Titan. Inconspicuously standing around the hold, Kal could tell they were observing Mare and him.

　　"It won`t be long, Princess. A few hours, no more." The Captain assured them, gesturing for their group to follow her. Before Mare could speak, Kal stepped forward.

　　"Are you detaining me? As Baron of Caledon, I demand to know if I am being arrested in connection to the attack on Terra." Kal said, stepping forward next to Mare. The Captain was taken aback by his question, her cold expression cracking, showing confusion.

　　"Of course not. You`re simply a valuable witness."

　　"Then I am free to leave. I have given you my statement on events; there is nothing more for us to add. I request transport to Caledon immediately." Kal stated, and this time the Captain smirked.

　　"You are free to leave, but all our Starships are currently in use. You will need to wait until more arrive. Princess Marella will not be allowed to join you. As the only member of the Royal Family remaining in the system, the Guard is responsible for her safety." The captain stated.

　　"Ridiculous! I trust Kal with my life. We are going to Caledon." Mare scoffed at the notion they were trying to protect her.

　　"I suggest we all wait until contact with Prince Argyle is re-established. He will ensure this is all sorted out."

　　There it is.` Kal thought. The Captain was a loyalist of Argyle`s, perhaps with inside information on the attack below. If Argyle was behind it, then he could have sent the Captain here to secure the area, and Mare, before he returned.

　　Next to him, Mare stiffened at the words. She turned to Kal, her eyes searching his for a solution.

　　"I will require the use of a communication terminal to contact Caledon, and obviously, Marella would like to speak with her father on Havencroft." Kal ordered, trying to find a way out of this dilemma for himself and Mare.

　　If they waited for Argyle, then there was no telling what would happen to them. Even if the Prince wasn`t involved in this attack, which was unlikely, there was no way he would allow Mare and the Ouroboros to leave his custody.

　　"Unfortunately, Baron, communications outside the system are restricted until the investigation is complete. I suggest you both come with me. Quarters have been arranged for you on board and-" The Captain was interrupted by one of her aides, passing her a datapad.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

　　Kal and Mare caught a few words amongst them Argyle` and Mars.` From the context and the expression on the Captain`s face, Argyle had either arrived on Mars or would be there shortly. Mare`s face was cold and expressionless, but he could see the cry for help in her eyes as she looked at him.

　　"You are in luck, Baron. Prince Argyle has been in contact with the Guard. He has placed serious allegations against Prince Augustus. He has requested that you stay until things are resolved, and he is eager to see Princess Marella again. The loss of his sister was a blow to him, and he wanted us to convey his relief that you are safe." The Captain explained, her eyes flicking from Mare to the Ouroboros and back to him.

　　Kal caught one piece of critical information. Argyle was placing blame for the attack on Augustus. But Kal and the others had seen Justice` fighting above the resort town, in conflict with Guard Mechs. Did Argyle fight on Terra and leave with the attackers departing forces, only to return claiming he was off-world?

　　They were running out of time. Kal could already envision the coming conflict. The Princes, Augustus and Argyle, and whoever else was interested in the throne would scheme and fight. The Rebellion would be a campfire compared to the conflagration about to ignite across the galaxy.

　　And Mare would be at the center of it, either killed or imprisoned for her connection to Ouroboros or her Royal status. Perhaps Duke Havencroft could protect her, but their home was far away while the danger was here and imminent.

　　It could be days before the Guard, or Prince Argyle, allowed information about Terra to escape the sector.

　　They needed to leave now.

　　"Captain, I think it`s time that I leave. My people will be coming with me, as well as Princess Marella." Kal ordered, stepping in front of Mare and looking down at the Captain. He towered over her in his battered and damaged Exosuit.

　　"As I`ve said, Baron, we have no authority to keep you here. You are free to go, but no Starship is available to bring you to Caledon, and I cannot allow communications outside this system." The Captain replied with a smirk.

　　"Fine. I will arrange other means of travel. Talha! Prepare the shuttle. John, ensure the others are on board! Captain, Mare will be coming with us." Kal threatened.

　　The thought of the danger approaching her twisted and turned in his mind. The looming threat was like a black shadow hanging above them, threatening to snatch her away.

　　He looked at Mare silently, asking her with his eyes if she was sure she wanted to come with him. She nodded slightly, gripping his arm tightly.

　　"That is quite impossible, as a member of the Royal Fam-" Kal`s declaration cut off the Captain.

　　"Marella is to be my wife! She is a member of my family, Captain. She will be coming with me." Kal stated loudly, drawing surprised looks from everyone in the hold, including Mare herself.

　　It was the only way he could think of to bring her safely to Caledon. As a member of his family, The Guard would have no legal authority to keep her here.

　　Only the Emperor could charge a member of the Nobility with a crime or restrict their movement. Argyle had some legal authority over the Royal Family until the succession was secured through the Ducal Houses, but not the Nobility.

　　By claiming she was to be his wife, she would enter his household, granting her the same status as him. They would be unable to keep her on board unless they were willing to violate the law and abduct her. The ruse would buy them enough time to reach Caledon, where Mare could contact her father on Havencroft.

　　Mare stared at Kal. Her face blushed red in embarrassment and surprise. She hadn`t expected him to shout that they were going to be married, a lie that was so unbelievable no one would speak it unless it were true.

　　"Preposterous! We`ve heard nothing about a betrothal." The Captain replied.

　　"Are you calling me a liar, Captain? Why do you think we were having the month-long celebrations? It was to be announced at the end by the Emperor himself before this tragedy befell us. Now, I suggest you allow us to leave." Kal said.

　　The Captain paused for a moment, thinking before she shook her head. Prince Argyle would need to be the one to straighten out this farce. Luckily, he had announced that he was arriving soon with reinforcements from Mars. She only needed to delay them until he found the truth.

　　"I cannot allow you to take the Princess. You will need to discuss it with Prince Argyle." The Captain replied. Kal turned to look at Mare, slightly shrugging his shoulder. He smiled sadly at her while shaking his head.

　　"I`m sorry, Mare. I thought that would work. Talha! Plan B!" Kal shouted. The Shuttle began to power up, preparing for take off. The Guards around them raised their lasrifles, confused at his yell.

　　"Atlas! I need you!" Kal shouted, pulling on the thread that bound him to the distant Titan.

　　On Caledon, deep beneath the Palace in the vault his grandfather had constructed, the Massive Mobile Suit catapulted through an opening in the ceiling, rocketing into the sky above the planet before disappearing into the void of the Jump.