For My Happiness Only
Chapter One: Roos' Law

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Eagle paused in mid-stride as the words of his best friend's brother reached him. He knew that sneaking on the XFI had been too easy and had immediate plans to find a really good hiding place, but the XFI was tiny compared to the NSX, and Eagle was not well acquainted with Holden's ship like he was with the battleship. Just when Holden discovered he was onboard, Eagle was just about ready to enter one of the two bedrooms installed on the fighter ship.

"Holden!" said Eagle with a smile. "I didn't expect for you to be back on so soon."

Holden narrowed his eyes. "You're trying to stowaway, aren't you?" He sighed. "I have orders, Eagle, and I will follow through with them. Don't even try to counterattack them; the vice president has a higher say than the commander of the military."

"I think that the son of the president, who is the commander-in-chief of all branches of the military of Autozam," said Eagle, "has a higher authority than a rogue, rank-less officer such as yourself."

"That doesn't mean that you can override Sirion's orders," said Holden. "Look, even Geo is staying here in Cephiro while this crisis is going on, and there are no orders for him to stay. Why can't you do the same?"

"Geo and I are two different people, and I have a feeling that you're making Geo stay regardless."

Holden sighed again and waved his hand. "Stubborn, stubborn, I see how you almost became the Pillar of this world. Yes, I am making Geo stay here as insurance that you will. And as much as I would have loved to do this before--" Holden reached for his belt and grabbed a gun. "--I really don't want to do this now. Geo is so going to kill me."