The Tardis landed softly because I, unlike the idiotic moron known as the Doctor, didn't leave the breaks on during a landing.
"There you go, Zairon." I said, turning to Rina. "Go on, take a peek and we'll be on our way somewhere without apes."
"No way, a peek? Are you crazy?" Rina asked a bit pissed off. "There's space samurais outside, probably a castle with an Emperor and who knows ... there's probably ninjas too and you don't want to explore? Not even for a bit?"
"It's an ape planet, ruled by apes which means everything is annoying." I replied, rolling my eyes. "I'm sure it's bound to be as boring as that film you watched once, the planet of the apes I believed it was called."
"Ugh, stop sounding like Nari for a sec would you!" The human consciousness replied. "Don't you forget you're half me too, you're a half ape and I know that you're just being stubborn. Deep down you know you want to explore, if only to criticize the planet and its race."
"I don't see why you want to go so much, sure I'm mostly like Nari but you don't like humans either." I said, not understanding her. "You always preferred solitude to social interactions so why do you want to go out there so much?"
"Just because you're going to explore a planet doesn't mean you actually have to be friendly with the natives you know?" She replied, as if saying the most obvious thing in the universe. "You're right I don't like most humans because even as a human I didn't fit in, but I don't care about the humans in Zairon I just want to see a whole different planet filled with Japanese culture."
"Fine, let's go." I huffed, knowing the human part of me well enough to know she wasn't going to back down. "But I go wherever I please, you're just coming as a voice in my mind that will mostly stay quiet. Or better yet, you'll think before you speak because I don't feel like listening to you babble nonstop."
"Sure." She replied with a grin. "I'll think before I speak."
That grin didn't inspire much confidence, the bloody goth was probably planning something. With a sigh, I grabbed my jacket and my Tardis's keys and left to explore the world known as Zairon.
Zairon, located in the Andromeda Galaxy, was a planet found by the Japanese after they left earth in the 29th century. They found it in the 32nd century, and by the 35th century, it was already fully populated and operational. Of course, the Japanese always had a thirst for conquering so they eventually decided to conquer the planets around them as well.
They did conquer more planets, two small planets - Ziva and Javra- and their respective moons creating the Principality of Zairon whose capital world was Zairon and which was ruled by the Court of Ishida.
Of course, they then tried to expand even more but they made a mistake because they tried to conquer a planet that already belonged to the Republic of Pyr. For three centuries now, since the 50th century, the Principality of Zairon had been at war with the Republic of Pyr.
Seeing as both of them were independent territories with their own governments the Galatic Authority couldn't interfere although they did offer humanitarian aid to the refugees fleeing the war zones.
The only reason I had agreed to come to Zairon was that it wasn't really affected by the war, which was mostly fought on Javra.
I stepped out of the Tardis and analyzed where I had landed. It was a sunny day out, something you would expect of a planet with two suns. It wasn't too hot tho, obviously it was earlier spring.
I had landed outside the defensive walls of the capital, Tsuyoi, which meant I had to get myself through the guards to get in.
You better, it's cool outside but there are no samurais here. That wall looks like the wall of China tho.
I ignored Rina and made my way to where I believed would be an entrance. After a fifteen minute walk, I found one. Luckily there weren't many people around, just two guards dressed in ancient Japanese garbs but armed with both swords and high tech laser guns.
Holy shit, it really is ancient Japan meets space... cool !
"Identify yourself." The guard demanded as I sighed at Rina's gob inside my head.
I grabbed the physic paper from one of my pockets and shoved it in his face, for a while I had forgotten that having voices in my head was extremely annoying. At least Nari kept to herself.
"My lady I had no idea you were coming to Zairon." The guard said in shock after looking at the physic paper, and bowed his head in respect. "It's an honor Lady Hyponia of The Nine."
The Nine? Where do I know that from?
From our memories, I mentally replied to Rina. They're allied with Zairon, and the landowners of the Quad. A bunch of pretensions rich bitches that Nari meet during her third regeneration.
"I'm sure it is." I arrogantly replied as a member of The Nine would.
"The city is in chaos, it would not do for you to roam unattended at the moment my Lady." The other guard said, bowing as well.
"What seems to be the problem?" I snottily asked. "I just came to inspect my businesses in the city."
"A tragedy has occurred." The first guard replied. "Our beloved Emperor has been murdered, the killer is still at large.
I fakely gasped, pretending to be shocked. "Who could do such a thing?"
"It seems it was the crown prince, Ryuu Ishida." The man informed. "The city is in lockdown, no one is to get in or out."
A murder, how exciting. Get in there!
"Are you saying I'm just anyone?" I snarked at the guards. "I demand entry or do you which to sever the alliance between the Court of Ishida and The Nine?"
"Of course not my Lady." The second guard hurriedly replied. "That is not our intention."
"Then let me in, at a time like this I must check my businesses to make sure I'm not losing money. Or do you want me to send a missive to the Court about how rude the guards of Zairon are?" I said, narrowing my eyes at both apes.
"Of course, right this way." They said at the same time, leading me straight to the gate. I sent another glare their way and walked into the city like a queen.
Both guards shared a look and sighed in relief as I left their presence.
A murdered Emperor killed by the Crown Prince in space Japan, now this sounds like an adventure!
I'm not bloody Sherlock Holmes, I'm not going to go look at the Emperor's dead corpse to find his killer, I mentally told Rina. That sounds like something the Doctor would do, which is something I would not.
Then Moriarty the shit out of this instead.
I frowned a bit, but at least that sounded more fun than looking at a corpse. What do you suggest then?
Find the killer and offer him your help, be a criminal consultant.
Well, technically speaking I am an infamous criminal in multiple galaxies and in multiple different times, I replied.
Exactly, Rina said, plus aren't you curious about why he did it? A few more years and he would be an Emperor. In light novels the ones that murder kings and Emperors are normally the bastard sons or the jealous wives in the Imperial Harem.
So you think the guy is innocent? I asked, because then this would be a bore.
Who cares? We're talking about a prince from space Japan! I'm sure he's a hot samurai with a dark and mysterious past. That's some romance novel shit right there.
Please, for all that is scientifically proved, control yourself and be quiet or I'll take a turn back and jump into the Tardis. I replied, and she eventually quieted down.
Now, where to find this lost prince of Zairon?
Now if you were a prince on the run where would you hide?
Now if you weren't a complete idiot you wouldn't hide in the rich parts of the city, because even if that's the only parts you have been to they would also be the most searched ones. If you were smart you would go for the lowtown, where the beggers and the thieves roam.
Then again this guy wasn't that smart if he killed the Emperor and was stupid enough to get caught. But still, I'm going to presume he has some brain cells that work.
If he went to the lowtown the best place to be would be in a place where the information could reach him, somewhere where he could find out what was happening on the streets. Probably to find a weakness in the guard's schedule to find a way out of the city. So, to the largest pub it was.
It was easy to find the biggest and most crowded pub in the city. It was called Yopparai, which in English meant drunken lass. I got myself a bottle of sake and took a seat in one of the corners, where I could see the whole place.
I drank quietly observing the people who roamed the place. Most of them were sky pirates, assholes who once upon a time stole a ship and decided to steal more shit. Those were easy to spot, either by their sake infested smell or they wannabe Jack Sparrow hats.
Some thieves, who I could spot by the way they looked at the money pouches of the passed out drunks. Even one or two assassins, I knew that by the way they silently walked.
Of all of those only one person stood out, by the fact they were none of those things. He was sitting on the other side of the room, also in the corner. His face was covered by the dark hood of his cloak, but I could make out the shape of a sword hidden in his back. He stood rigid, carefully observing the people in the room. If that wasn't a big clue, he also had his back to the wall, obviously being cautious about being attacked from behind.
I sipped the rest of sake from my cup, grabbed the bottle that was still half full and walked towards the mysterious figure.
Without giving a damn I sat down in front of him and filled his empty cup with sake before taking a sip myself, straight from the bottle.
"I'm not interested." He said, looking at me.
"What makes you think I am?" I replied, arching my brow at him.
"You did just give me a drink." He replied in a low voice.
"You looked like you needed it." I replied with a shrug.
He looked at me, even if I could barely see his eyes and carefully raised the glass to his lips downing it quickly.
"Thanks." He replied, as if telling me silently to go away now.
"Don't be like that." I said with a large smile. "I came all the way to the most disgusting pub in this goddam town to give you a hand."
"Who are you?" He growled out, his hand silently moving toward his sword.
"Me?" I asked, with an innocent expression on my face. "Just a gal who was bored and decided to help out another wanted felon."
Before he could reply to me, the front door of the pub was kick open, frightening the drunks inside.
"By order of Emperor Hiro Ishida you shall show your identification." The Guard that kicked the door said as a few more guards entered the pub. "We are looking for the killer of Emperor Tetsuya, Ryuu Ishida."
The drunks started to comply, showing their IDs. I looked to where the wanted man in question was sitting to find the place empty, I looked around and found him stealthy walking towards one of the windows.
He was about to escape when one of the guards noticed him. "You there, stop in the name of the Emperor."
The Prince turned quickly to look at the guard and I saw his face.
Damn, he's hot. Can we get some of that?
He didn't stop for long, quickly jumping out of the window. In a rush, all of the guards left and ran down after him.
What are you waiting for? The hot Prince is in need of rescuing!
I rolled my eyes at Rina's fangirling babble, downed the rest of the bottle of sake and ran out of the pub.
I commandeered a vehicle and promptly drove to where I could hear the sounds of swords clashing against each other. People were running down the other way, no one wanted to be caught in between a fight between the guards and the royal killer.
When I finally arrived I saw about five dead guards on the floor, while Ryuu Ishida was still battling three of them on his own. I could have gotten out of the bike I had stolen and helped him but he looked like he had everything under control, so why bother.
He eventually struck down two more guards, he only had one more opponent to defeat now. Although this guard seemed to be more fierce than the others, my bet was that he was a General.
"Traitor." The General growled, slashing his sword at the Prince.
Ryuu stopped the enemy sword from striking his heart and replied loudly. "I am not!"
Great, so he's innocent.
At least that means he isn't dumb enough to kill an Emperor and get caught, I replied to Rina. He does, however, have a smart enemy because not everyone can kill an Emperor and pin it on his own son.
You're going to help him right?
Going back now would just be wasted effort, wouldn't it? I replied.
Now that's more like it.
I let out a smile at Rina enthusiasm and looked at the battle in front of me. Ryuu had been injured, either by the General or one of the Guards and was starting to lose strength. He would lose against a full-strength opponent as the General in such a state.
The Prince lost the grip on his sword, and the General raised his own to strike him down dead. Ryuu didn't look afraid of death, he just looked angry. I thought this had gone on long enough.
Before the sword pierced his skin, I lifted the gun I had also borrowed from the sky pirate who I stole the bike from and shot the General in the head. His body easily crumbled to the floor, lifeless.
Ryuu Ishida looked up to see his enemy dead and the turned around to look at me in shock.
"I had a friend who used to say that you should always take a gun for a sword fight, it comes in handy." I said with a smirk, remembering one of the Master's old sayings.
"Who are you?" The Lost Prince of Zairon asked in awe.
"I'm the Rani and the only person in this city that doesn't particularly want to kill you." I replied, a bit amused at his shocked expression. "Get on Princeling, I don't have all day."
He shakily grabbed his swords from the ground and hopped on the bike. I smirked as he clumsily put his hands on my hips to grab on to something, and stepped on the pedal and drove us off away from that mess.
How romantic, you saved a prince. This is the part where you kiss him and drive into the sunset.
Can you shut up for two bloody seconds?!
A/N: UPDATE! Before anything else, Zairon and most of its history and characters belong to the tv show called Dark Matter from the sci-fi channel ... I was super sad when they canceled that. The Nine belong to Killjoys, also from the sci-fi channel... at least that one hasn't been canceled yet. How did you like it? Or did you hate it? Tell me in the comments below! Also, Happy new year dear readers ;)
xx, Ritz-chan