Writing a Sin, Not a Tregedy(Open)

Gertragia... Ah, home sweet home. The thick, luscious trees... Damp and moss-covered ground.... The crashing sounds of a Gertragian Giant filled the forest. Hard to think that, just amidst the peaceful planet, there was a struggle for power that fell so deep and ancient that it made the plight of the Sigma citizens and the Evoknights seem like a walk in the park. Well, minus the gut-wrenching terror of death at every turn... Great to be back. Just... Wonderful.

He was so glad to be away from the terrible chaos of the Evo's attack. A prince couldn't be amidst that... He was nearly killed in the first wave of the invasion! Naito dodged another load of water that tried to crash down on him and his book, which was already soaked to the spine. His ears were pressed flat against his skull to save them from the tyranny of the briars both above and below. Blood was already starting to bead on his pale face from the multiple scratches the blasted plants had already inflicted upon him. His hair had gotten longer than he liked it to be. On the trip over here, he'd cut it himself. It was more of a hack-job, truly. Now his once neat and orderly brown hair was spiky and short, only dropping down to just past his ears if it ever stayed down long enough to be measured visually... And he was dirty. No clean clothes on Sigma anymore. So he was wearing his favorite shirt, one Xeda had 'borrowed' from that poor boy, Cezar. Naito wondered briefly if he'd ever see them again. Probably not. They were probably dead. He felt a twinge of guilt that was erased as more water fell down on his head, making him bristle. They were there. He was here. He should get over it and go on with his life. Humans that had passed fleetingly into his life had no meaning to him....

Or, they shouldn't. He stuck his nose into his book again, wrapping his long tail around his ankle to keep from stepping on it or accidentally pulling some of the fur away in a bramble patch. The Ilet shrugged his way past a curtain of plants, and found himself face-to-face with Gertragian security. His icy-blue eyes widened. They didn't look too friendly...

San-san, the commander of the Hunter's Trade Union on Gertragia, drew in a very deep breath as he moved through the forest in his great overcloak. He was, of course, followed by escort that numbers almost a hundred behind and in front and on his sides but he was fine with that. Most of them were very small compared to him so he could see the nature of his kind's home planet without much of a bother. Lately, his subordinates had brought rather large amounts of illegal goods, ranging from drugs to slaves, which made more work for him since he had to sign every report they made so that his 'rule' on this planet was followed; the commander had to read through every report so that he knows everything that is going on. But he needed some rest after 100 days of signing, so he had decided to go out of his outpost and into the wild. There was no one here, which only made it better. Gertragia was a very good place to have had built a base.

Then suddenly, a soldier - a Ilet- came up to him and gave off a salute until he told him to report already. The Ilet's hand went down on his side and began reporting about how he was up ahead of the escort when he encountered a Ilet that did not belong to Hunter's Trade Union, UWUC, or the native Gertragian security force. An Ilet. Ilets and Gertragian Giants shared this planet. It was nothing to much of a big deal to run into a native Ilet. So he decided to do what he usually did with a inhabitant that had not been roaming around in these parts without his permission. “Escort it to the outpost with a blindfold over its eyes. If it tries to escape, then you may do with it as you wish. Killing, however, is not preferred unless you know it will escape,” he said and turned around and began walking back to the base.

Naito's sensitive ears picked up San-San's order. He growled slightly as guards moved to take him into custody. "Hey! It's me, Naito!" he called. The guards hesitated for a fraction of a second before one leaped at him, pinning him down with his arms behind his back. His book fell as a victim to the damp leaves as his face was pushed into the earth. "Don't be stupid, boy." the guard snarled. "You cannot be Prince Naito. He left his family here years ago to crawl after those miserable humans!" Naito's anger boiled in his veins, and he flattened his ears. "Do not talk to your prince in such a disrespectful way!" he snapped. He normally disliked expressing his authority. But clearly Gertragia was going to heck in a handbasket without him around. His parents must have really let go...

San-san stopped in his tracks and sighed. This planet was the planet that he intended to rule so that all its greens will be safe from the harm of both the Hunter's Trade Union and of the crawling civilization. He saw the potential it had, the power of the forest as well as its dangers. This planet was priceless. And he would've continued to think more had it not been for a soldier coming up to him and saluting again. He sighed again in his great overcloak and turned to the soldier. The soldier looked troubled. "Did you get the Ilet?" he asked him. The Ilet hesistated but soon answered. "The local securities have him, sir. It won't be easy to pry him from them..." he said. The Gertragian Giant let out a growl. "And the Ilet claimed to be Prince Naito..." he muttered quikly. San-san froze. The Prince Naito...? Then he let himself smile, something he does not often do. "How many securities?" he asked. "Twenty sir!" the Ilet replied. San-san quickly formed a plan. "Have the C Squad surround the securities and have the A Squad snipe the guards!" he shouted. "And if the 'Prince' resists, shoot his arms!" he shouted hungrily.

It wasn't long before the two squads were upon the local securities while they and the 'Prince' argued somewhat. The C Squad, consisting mainly of feline Ilets, quickly made a circle around them, unnoticed by most. Then the A Squad, very accurate snipers, took their aim and fired.

Naito was still hissing in complaint at the guard who had him pinned. His ears pricked as he heard the gunfire. His eyes widened as he saw two, three, seven of the guards go down. Even the one who was holding him went limp. As soon as the grip on his arms loosened, Naito stood up slightly in a crouch. He was very confused now. If it wasn't enough that he was attacked upon his return, but now his people were shooting each other? He curled his tail tightly around his ankles, so it wouldn't get shot. Injuries to the tail were very painful, as were to the ears....

"What in Ilet's name are you doing?!" he spat. "Cease your fire!"

The head of the A Squad stopped firing. "Cease fire!" he shouted as he pressed a cease fire button on his wrist which sent a signal to his comrades to stop firing. They all stopped. Then he and the C squad moved in, making a very tight circle around the lone survivng Ilet. Among the C Squad was a Ilet riding a very hungry looking Morween and it seemed to be ready to devour the dead bodies already. The rider jumped off the said creature. The creature, dragon in shape, looked at the rider as if to await orders before the rider nodded. The Morween let out a low growl as he used his teeth and jaws to pick up the dead bodies. And using his claws, it pried the armor and the guns from them, leaving them naked of protection. Then it devoured them. As this scene went on, which horrified several of the squad members, the head of the A sqaud, a Vendi-Ulis, looked at Naito.

He read many files about the Prince, so he knew whether this was Naito or not. But he wasn't taking any chances until he could get this 'traitor' into the outpost. "If you call yourself Prince Naito, then... Welcome, 'Your Majesty,'" he said, his voice layered with sarcasm. Then he took out a pistol-sized handgun and pointed it at Naito. "Now, I suggest that you follow what we ask of you, unless you want to be sent to the capital in pieces," he grinned as he turned to the C Squad. "Put a blindfold on him." Then he turned to Naito again. "If you resist, I have permission to shoot you, so don't make this harder for the both of us.

As the Morween ate the dead bodies, Naito stared. He started bristling, horror in his eyes. As the Vendi-Ulis pointed a gun at him, he cut his gaze into a glare. "What?" His tail lashed once. "I'm the prince!" he insisted. "Ask my mother and father! Ask Kiiro and Adel and all my other siblings!" He took a small step back, suddenly fearful.

The Vendi-Ulis lowered his gun slightly as the 'Prince' shouted. He had a surprised expression on his face. "Wow, that's some claim you lay... Then, Your Majesty, care to look around?" he asked as he pointed at the Morween. "This is the state of your planet. That," he said as he pointed at the bodies being gobbled up. "Could be you. We mean no harm, physically anyway. But we'll not here to help. We're the Hunter's Trade Union and we listen to no one. Now, I suggest that you let yourself be taken or we'll shoot..." he said but trailed off. "You know what?" he said as he cocked his gun, pointed at Naito's tail. "Comply or get hurt. Shout and I shoot. Claim that your Naito again and I'll shoot. Is that clear?" he asked.

Anger filled his icy blue eyes, and he very nearly snarled a dark threat. But he thought better against it, flattening his ears. He refused to let the guards lay a finger on him with a scorching glare, instead squaring his shoulders and puffing out his chest. At least if he couldn't talk his way out of this, he'd keep his pride in tact. He moved his tail out of the gun's aim. "Well? Lead me to my palace." he said, his voice icy and full of contempt. He'd done nothing to violate this creature's little rules...

The head of the squad almost laughed, but he did give a chuckle. "Palace? Are you an idiot?" he asked as the C Squad put a blindfold over his eyes and tied his arms behind him. "If any of us go to any location where the government is, we'd be arrested!" he now laughed outloud. Then he abruptly stopped his laughing. "Take him away!" he gave a stern order and they were moving again. The Morween looked at his 'friends' and it quickly followed. But its eyes never left Naito.

Few miles away, San-san entered the Haven Outpost by a small entrance made for patrols. It was well hidden and it looked more like a cave than a artificially created entrance with lights. Then the same messenger came up to him again and saluted. "What?" he asked. "We've caught the Ilet, sir," he replied. San-san grinned under his overcloak. "Send him to my office. Our guest is a ...royalty," he said, his voice layered with sarcasm.

The Ilet narrowed his eyes further as a tree far above dumped water on him. He shook the annoying wetness off, grumbling under his breath about the government. Since he'd been on Sigma for so long, he hadn't heard of the issues in Gertragia. If he had, he probably wouldn't have returned... Naito glared at the Vendi-Ulis ahead, his tail bristling out to twice it's size. His claws extended. His fury was making him desire to sink them deep into the traitor alien's throat... But he shouldn't. He was surrounded by weaponry, with no experience in fighting. His limbs were weaker than twigs. The only viable option would be to get the A-Squad or whatever to move around from behind him, so there'd be an opening. Then attack and run, climb a tree or something, and get to a different planet.

San-san waited patiently as the blindfolded Ilet and the escorts entered the base. He watched them through CCTV, or something close to it, and when the entire escort came in, he pressed a button that made the door close behind them. Now from outside, it would look just like a normal side of a mountain. And when Naito entered his office, he gestured them to leave stand guard at the door and unfold the prince. San-san didn't speak, for he was not happy with this 'Prince.' But he was thinking about how to make him an ally. But at the same time, he doubted the worth of this Ilet and considered briefly-very briefly- about killing this Ilet and let the Princess Jinx be at peace. He hated her but better a comatose ruler than a active youngsters. And above all this he considered this: is he really Prince Naito? And turuth be said, he doubted it very much.

The Ilet bristled as he was led somewhere. He hated not having his sight, but his sensitive ears and nose helped him a bit. It smelled dank in here, yet clean. Which was very, very strange... His tail uncurled from around his leg as his blindfold was taken off. He blinked, blue eyes trying to get used to the new light. Then he glared at San-sane, assuming he was the leader of this motley group. "Well?" he asked, his voice like acid. "State why you've taken the prince of Gertraigia hostage. Now." he snapped, his voice authoritative. He was furious, his tail bristling out.

San-san didn't do anything other than stare at the Ilet. "If you really are a royalty, start acting like one," he growled. "And please stop hissing like a five year old Ilet girl who just had water dumped on her," he added as he stood up with his heavy thick scythe in his right. He moved from his desk to the Ilet and looked at him straight into his face from three feet away. "I kidnapped you because one, I do not believe that you are worthy of becoming the ruler of Gertragia, and two your death is serve the Hunter's Trade Union well," he said as he ordered the guards to hold him down. They were weaponless robots with some sentience in them, and since an order was given, they obeyed. Then he pointed his scythe's gun at Naito. "Now, please die," he said as he pulled the trigger, sending out a sniper-sized bullet.

Naito's heart sank as soon as he saw the scythe. He felt cold, metal hands holding him down. He almost succumbed to his panic. Then he remembered Shogun's training. His hands were free. He quickly yanked one of the robots forwards, pulling it in front of him just as San-San fired the bullet. It hit the creature, sending off a shower of sparks. Naito pushed the machine away, cold anger and fear in his eyes. He lashed out with his claws, aiming to yank the scythe right of of San-San's grip. And if he didn't... Well, his claws were low enough that they would hit a uh.... Very important male area if San-San pulled away with the gun.

When San-san saw the robot get hit by the bullet, he was shocked. That robots would soon explode. He immediately pulled his scythe back and spun it like a shield. It would prevent most of his robot's explosion. Then he saw Naito reach out to claw him. No matter, his scythe would cut him or Naito would die from the robtic explosion behind him. But Naito was really fast, but there was no way for him to get pass a tight overcloak that could block projectiles. Instead, San-san began to shout orders that his second robot heard. The robot pulled out its own weapons, two grappling hooks, and fired them. The two hook flew out and hooked Naito's shirt just before he was minced up by the scythe, had he got any closer.

The Ilet hissed again as two hooks prevented him from attacking. He was trembling with anger now, his eyes furious. "You traitorous scum!" he snapped at San-San, swatting the hooks away and ripping his own shirt in the process. At the sparking heap of the robot, before it could blow, Naito kicked it at the other robot, pinning it against the door. Then he lunged out of the way, flattening his ears. Even if the second machine managed to get away, the explosion would blast the door away and he could escape.

San-san smirked. All of this was going well, he thought as he spun his scythe defensively. Naito was a good soldier. He knew how to fight against people even though he was outnumbered. But if he had a flaw, it was that he did not think about how to get pass the scythe. San-san grinned. He liked this. He loved forcing someone into anger and having them let it out. Most generally needed that to calm down and start talking. Of course, he had aimed his bullet at his ear, knowing that the Ilet do something about it.

Without an warning, he pulled out another scythe from within his overcloak and began to shoot Naito.

As he crouched, waiting for the explosion, he felt a stinging pain in his tail. He let out a soft caterwaul of pain, drawing the appendage close. Near the base of his tail, there was a bloody spot. It hurt, stinging like someone dropping a hot iron on your foot. Naito looked up, his eyes widening at the sight of the gun trained on him. Several bullets clipped past him. He was cornered! Blood was starting to well in scratches inflicted by the bullets, and he winced. Just then, the robot's exploded, shattering into a million high-tech pieces. Shrapnel flew. He felt something lodge in his leg, but didn't care. He had an exit! Quick as possible, he sprang through the smoke and out the door, running as fast as he ever had before in his life.

San-san chuckled before he whistled. The whistle was a command to close down all of the gates. And so his subordinates did. All the gates, within or external, closed, starting from outside to inside. Every second, many sets of doors automatically closed down until it reached San-san's office, trapping Naito with San-san. "Now, let's talk, shall we?" he said as he put his weapons back into his cloak. "Sorry for being somewhat ignorant to what you have said before, your majesty," he said as he went back to his desk.

Naito had almost reached the door when it slammed in his face, a whisker's length away. He let out a loud yelp, springing back. He turned to glare furiously at San-San. "Talk?! Now you want to talk!?" he spat, baring his teeth. When the alien put his weapons away, the prince relaxed a tiny bit. Fury was still simmering in his gaze, however.

San-san sighed. "You see, most of the Hunter's Trade Union, especially the lower subordinates, expect the higer-ups like myself to show up hatred towards the Royalties and whatnot. So I put up one, and I never intended to kill you, if you were eyeing where my gun was actually pointed at. So when you did what I expected you to do and tried to escape, I, logically, ordered a "shutdown" on the doors. All cameras are down at this point, so we could talk more friendly. And if I scared the crap out of you, please forgive me. But I had to do it if I wanted to talk to you about how to get the Hunters to help you," he said and then sat down. He gestured Naito to sit down on the same sit where he was going to be 'killed.' "Please, have a seat. The shutdown lasts three hours and we must talk during that time," he said.

He relaxed slightly, but was still wary. "Why should trust anything you say?" he growled. Naito narrowed his eyes, backing up a step. His tail had gone numb... Great...

((Lost muse))

"If you don't want to listen to my proposal, then I can have you sedated and sent back the capital. Life intact, of course. We don't want any bad bearings our operatiosn here, now," he said with a smile.

Naito flattened his ears. "Fine." he spat, sitting down stiffly. "What do you want?"