(A/N: I do not own Duck Dodgers or Looney Tunes. That right belongs to Warner Bros.)
X-2 was never one to do secret meetings like this but then again, he wasn't one to be a slave either. He didn't like these kinds of meetups but desperate times called for desperate measures. He wanted to know just precisely what was going on and what this mystery benefactor meant when he said that this would be something that benefited him.
The former Commander of the Martian Army quietly snuck his way into the throne room and looked around. It was decorated for the wedding that was taking place 3 days from then. He gave another sad sigh as this only reminded him of his (almost) wedding with the Queen. However, he stayed focused on what was happening.
X-2 stood in the middle of the room waiting for some kind of indication that he wasn't alone. He waited for quite some time very well past midnight. He was worried this may have been some trick played on him by a servant with a grudge or something along the lines.
When he figured that he wasted enough sleep time, he gave a sigh and started to head back towards his room. That was until he heard something.
"X-2" A voice whispered. It was a voice that sounded familiar but he couldn't make out for sure just whose voice it was.
"Who's there?" The former Commander asked. He didn't know why but he was getting nervous. He didn't know whether it was the secrecy, the sneaking around the Queen (again) or maybe he deep down didn't trust this mystery person. However, despite his best judgment, he proceeded with caution.
"Just move 20 steps to your right" The voice said.
X-2 turned to his right and did as told. He walked to where the voice told him to go. While walking towards the destination, he could see a shadow from behind a column on one end of the throne room. The stranger was a much larger build than X-2. He was also much taller. With each step, the figure became more intimidating.
When he walked the requested steps, he stopped. The figure's shadow still hid the stranger's identity although X-2 could tell he was Martian, though that was probably a given. The only non-Martian being on Mars right now was Dodgers.
"Hello, X-2" The voice said in a more clear voice.
X-2's eyes widened. That voice. He'd recognize it anywhere. It was a voice he'd never thought he'd hear again.
"...Z-9" X-2 said.
The former General came out from the shadow. X-2 saw that he didn't exactly dress any better than him at that moment. He was wearing dirty garments, old boots and his helmet that he wore all the time as the Martian General was removed, revealing a bald head that all male Martians had.
"X-2, a pleasure. I knew you would come. Even you must have understood that my offer was an opportunity you couldn't afford to waste in your position" Z-9 said in his typical sly and weasel like voice.
X-2 gave a glare to the former General. Obviously, he still wasn't over the fact that he committed treason when he tried to take over both Earth and Mars and dispose of his beloved queen.
"How have you escaped from prison?" X-2 demanded.
"I have my ways. I also made a deal with my cellmate Andromeda Annihilator that I would get him lots of 'toy soldiers' for him to play with if he kept his mouth shut about my absence. Right now, the prison guards believe me to be in my bed, recovering from my injuries from 'play time'" Z-9 explained with a shudder, remembering how hard the large prisoner 'played' (And it was not at all what it sounded like).
"Right….Now give me one good reason I shouldn't wake the queen up and inform her that a filthy traitor is free and on Mars once again?" X-2 asked with a raised eyebrow.
"True, I did betray the crown...but so did you...didn't you?" Z-9 asked with a sly expression on his non-face.
"Don't compare what I did to what you did. I only didn't want that duck being King...and marrying my queen" X-2 said,looking down to the ground, practically whispering in the last part.
"Then that's exactly why you shouldn't turn me in. We have mutual goals" Z-9 said.
X-2 glared up at the former General. After several moments of them looking at each other, X-2 spoke up.
"So what is this proposition of yours?" X-2 asked with disdain in both his eyes and voice.
"Well it's quite simple, really. First, we stop the duck from marrying the Queen. Then, that leaves the door open for you to marry her and become King of Mars. From then, you convince the Queen to grant me a pardon and restore me to my former position. That's all I wish" Z-9 said.
X-2 raised an eyebrow. "You make all that sound simple"
"Yes, it does sound too easy but believe me, I've thought over how to do this" Z-9 said.
X-2 crossed his arms and gave a glare.
"Then by all means, don't keep me in suspense" X-2 said, sarcastically.
"The duck's motives to marrying the Queen are quite unknown to the citizens of Mars especially since he opted out of his first chance to marry her so...if some events were to happen that showed his real intent on marrying the queen, he'd be in an...awkward situation" Z-9 explained, putting an emphasis on real.
"And I suppose these events are to be orchestrated by the two of us?" X-2 asked.
"Precisely. You see, it's quite clear the duck only wanted to marry her the first time around because of her wealth and power. Let's say this time around he was planning to...I don't know...kill her, instead?" Z-9 asked with a devious look on his face.
X-2's eyes widened and in no time at all, his face turned sour with anger. "How dare you!"
Z-9 gestured for him to relax. "Calm yourself, we're not really going to kill the Queen. We're only going to make it look like Dodgers wants to kill her"
X-2 calmed a little but not by much. "And why would he want to kill her? The Queen is practically the dream woman of every man in the galaxy"
"She is very attractive, yes...but some people appreciate power more than a woman's touch. Dodgers would only be a consort with no real power if he were to marry the Queen and if something happened to her, he'd be the first in line to take the throne" Z-9 explained.
X-2, understanding the plan more, only had one other question. "Just how do you exactly plan to frame Dodgers for planned murder, anyway?"
"I've been thinking about that, yes. With any wedding, there comes the honeymoon. With the honeymoon, there comes, among many other explicit things, kissing. Lots and lots of kissing" Z-9 explained.
X-2 shuddered at the thought of the mongrel with his beloved Queen in such a manner.
"What's your point?" X-2 asked.
"Well as you probably know, the reception comes right after the wedding and it will be serving exquisite food. However, I have my own special ingredient for the duck" Z-9 explained.
X-2 raised an eyebrow. This was making no sense to him.
"What do you mean?" X-2 asked.
"I've been doing plenty of reading in my time away, Commander. Interesting reading, particularly chemistry and I found this absolutely fascinating reading on a poison that only has an effect on Martians. I need you to sneak this poison into his food" Z-9 said, revealing a capsule of some powdery substance.
X-2 blinked. He was already feeling uncomfortable.
"But you said this poison only affected Martians" X-2 said.
"Exactly. When the duck eats his food, the poison will enter his salivary glands. When he attempts to kiss the Queen in the bridal chamber, that poison would then seep through the Queen's skin and enter her bloodstream, effectively killing her" Z-9 said.
X-2 practically fainted at the very thought. He couldn't believe he was even entertaining this idea. That was when he started to speak up in protest about this.
"Are you insane?!" X-2 asked frantically.
"Relax, Commander. As I said before, we will not kill the Queen. Only put her in the position where she could be killed. When Dodgers and the Queen enter the Bridal Chamber, you wait about 30 seconds before rushing in and accuse him of trying to poison the Queen. Doctors will investigate and find Dodgers indeed is guilty" Z-9 explained.
X-2, calming down, stared at the former general, still skeptical.
"But Dodgers is a dunderhead. Everyone knows that. He couldn't do this all by himself" X-2 said.
"Yes, I know. That's why we'll blame it on the Galactic Protectorate. We'll make it look like they planned to do this as revenge for the Queen kidnapping Dodgers and take Mars for themselves. Their scientists easily have the resources necessary to develop this poison. I should know. I made it" Z-9 said in a bragging manner.
"And where exactly do you fit into all this? I doubt the Queen would even consider the thought about pardoning you after you held her hostage" X-2 said.
"Well that's where you come in. When you enter the bridal chamber and Dodgers is discovered to have poison in his veins, when the Queen asks you about how you came across this info, you tell her that it was me who informed you. That is I broke out of prison when I heard through the grapevine of a conspiracy of the Galactic Protectorate trying to assassinate the Queen and take over Mars. When Dodgers is arrested and the treaty is ended, the Queen will instantly fall for you again as she did the first time you saved her. You can then convince her that I'm reformed and reliable enough to return to my former position. It all adds up, Commander" Z-9 explained.
X-2 looked down to the ground. This was indeed an interesting proposition. Break up Dodgers and the Queen, Dodgers goes to Prison, he's hailed as a hero and the Queen likely falls for him again. In every sense, with this plan, he came out the winner but he still didn't know. He didn't like conspiring in manners such as this. His lie to Dodgers couldn't compare to this.
"I...I don't know. To go against my queen and the throne of Mars like this...it's not right" X-2 said with great doubt in his voice.
"X-2, think about where your life stands right now and think of how the future of Mars looks knowing that this imbecile of a creature will soon be on the throne of Mars. We'd be doing the planet, no, the galaxy a favor. Also...be honest with yourself, Commander...are you ready to live out the rest of your life as a servant to this duck?" Z-9 asked.
X-2 looked up to the taller Martian as he continued on.
"Just think...every day, you'll clean up after him, grant his every request, see him with the Queen. Kissing, hugging, laughing, everything you never got to do with her when the two of you were together" Z-9 explained, trying to paint a picture in X-2's mind.
X-2 thought about it and it did not sit well at all. He was on the verge of tears.
"If you go through with this, you'll get everything you've ever wanted in life and more. Honestly, my friend...you won't get another chance such as this" Z-9 said before taking X-2's hand and placing the capsule within it.
X-2 looked down at the poison. This small capsule was his ticket to eternal happiness yet it only filled him with doubt and ever growing guilt.
"Think about it" Z-9 said and started to walk towards the doors to the throne room.
X-2 just kept staring at the capsule, not knowing at all what to do.
"I've been stowing away in the Palace for some time so just come look for me at night if you want to talk over the plan. I'll be around" Z-9 said then exited the room, a bang closing behind him.
X-2 finally looked to the doors where Z-9 left and gave a sigh. This was not an easy decision on his part. To go against the Queen, the one person he's ever loved in his life like this with a person he hated probably even more than Dodgers or to be miserable the rest of his life? He didn't know what he was going to do and there didn't seem to be any answer that would lead him to the path of true happiness.