Chapter 7: Storm Clouds Before A Gathering

(Wolf's P.O.V.)

I sat up from the bed I was sleeping in, and I yawned as I stretched my arms, but when I stretched a little too much, I cringed and curled up while covering my side. I looked over and saw Tyler was already awake, and he was looking at something on his plate. "How long have you been awake?" I called out as I slowly got out of bed, making sure not to stretch or bend my side too much.

"Approximately one hour… I was reading a few reports when some servants dropped off breakfast."

When he finished, I nodded as I walked over, and slipped the jacket on, but put the helmet under my arm and walked over and joined Tyler at the table. Sitting down, I looked down, and saw a purple fruit sitting on the top of my plate. Odd… it looks like a pear… I reached down and plucked it off the plate and took a bite of it and Tyler's hand shot to where mine had just grabbed the fruit from. I slammed the thing back on the plate as I closed my eyes, and forced myself to swallow.

Coughing vigorously afterwards, I looked over at Tyler with watering eyes and he gave me an apologetic look as he said, "I forgot to tell you…"

Looking away, I gagged as I shook my head. That was by far the most disgusting, and horrible fruit I have ever tried… I glanced at the food item, and looked it over as I said, "Did it taste sour to you as well?"

"It was more of a horrible sense of spiciness for me…" Tyler said with a shake of his head.

With a little self-restraint, I grabbed another thing that looked like an apple, and I asked, "Did you try this one?"

"That's an apple… I made sure to pack some human food…"

I nodded and said, "Well, this is all I'm eating this morning… I want to start negotiations as soon as I can, so that we can finish earlier, and then roam the city for a bit."

…

Looking up at the Governor, his wife, and Krystal, I nodded toward them as I lightly held my side. The short walk with Tyler had been uncomfortable from the hit I had sustained yesterday, but I wouldn't let that stop me from doing what I was sent here to do. "Good morning to you Tyler and good morning to you as well…"

"Diplomat is just fine." Tyler answered for me. I nodded once more, and I saw the Governor also nod in understanding.

The governor went to say something, but just as he did, someone walked in through the doors behind us, and I turned and saw it was a tan furred dog Cerinian. He walked past Tyler and I, and he gave something to the Governor and whispered something quietly before he was rushing back out the door. The governor frowned, but he said, "We can discuss the negotiations later, you two are dismi-"

"If you would, please step outside and wait Tyler." Krystal intervened.

"I'm required to stay with the diplomat at all times Ms. Krystal…"

"I know that you are, but I would also like to talk to this Diplomat with only my parents and I." Krystal said back.

I stepped closer to Tyler, and whispered as quietly as I could, "Do you think my helmet will muffle my voice enough to render it unrecognizable?"

"Should we even take the risk?" Tyler retorted.

Smiling, I said back quietly, "Remember what I told you last night? Well, it has been over a month… maybe she forgot what my voice sounds like… anyways, I should try to make a good impression somehow, especially after what happened last night from her."

I grabbed the rifle from off my back, and held it out to Tyler, and he grumbled silently as he said, "Don't screw up, or it's going to be the end of both of us…"

Nodding my head, I watched as a guard escorted him out of the room and into the hallway, and when the doors closed, I looked back forward. I coughed and did my best to mask my voice, and I asked, "What questions would you prefer to ask while my handler is away?"

Krystal stalked down from her parents sides, and she approached me and asked, "Why is it you are dressed so much differently from the other humans?"

"My identity is a secret I must keep guarded closely." I answered simply, but this seemed to not be the correct answer, I could tell; her frown seemed to deepen after I said that.

"Why is it your identity is so important then?"

"Because of whom I am…" I answered with a hidden smile beneath my helmet. I almost chuckled, but when Krystal stepped directly in front of me, she tapped my goggles and said, "Raise those from your face, I like to see the eyes of those I'm talking with."

"I cannot do that for you… it goes against my orders to keep my identity secret." I looked past her and towards the Governor and asked, "Sir, this wasn't in my briefings… is this part of the negotiations?"

He waved his hand towards Krystal and said, "You are required to get acquainted with Krystal as well as the negotiations… those are the only two primary things that is required as being the diplomat."

I nodded as Krystal once more stepped in front of me, and she said, "That is right, and I don't feel comfortable being acquainted with someone that I don't even know. I felt the pressure against my mind increase, and I dropped my mental barrier temporarily, just so I could mess with her a bit. Imagine me and you dating… going out to dinner, getting married… is that acquainted enough for you, or do you require deeper thoughts?

This time I chuckled as shock stenciled its way across Krystal's appearance, and I said, "I will be taking my leave Krystal, we can get acquainted later since it seems you are busy…"

Turning around, I began to make my way towards the doors when I saw a bright blue flash behind me, and I already knew that whatever it was, I wasn't going to feel good in a few minutes.

Something cold and forceful shoved into my helmet, and I fell forward onto the ground as ringing filled my ears, but I still heard two voices call out with surprise and shock in their tones, "Krystal!?"

I groaned as I slowly raised myself up on my hands, and I couldn't help but think to myself, Maybe it would've been better to have died on that one day… at least then I would've known the one I fell in love for could be so violent… a female gasp came from behind me, and it was then that I felt the presence of a mind with my own, and with a fearful and stunned realization, I found out my mental barrier had been shattered…

Lying on the ground, and spinning by the doorway, was my helmet. I coughed, and saw blood splatter onto the marble floor beneath me, but I pushed myself up off the ground. And I heard the Governor ask, "Diplomat, are you alright, here, let me-" I held up a hand, and I stumbled/limped to the doorway. I reached down, and I grabbed my helmet from the ground as I felt tears start to slide down face, but I quickly shoved the helmet onto my head, and started to walk out of the room, not masking my thoughts as the pain from my side, and heart, both cascaded into one avalanche and wave of misery… wave after wave of it. I was wrong to think for a second, that something as untangible as love, could survive time… Before I left the room, I heard a small whimper from behind me, and I called over my shoulder, "Governor, let's not let this mishap destroy the diplomatic relationship between our two worlds… I will be back in a few hours to conduct the negotiations agreement."

Then, I opened the doorway as I felt a single foreign thought enter into my mind… Wolf…?

(Garit's P.O.V.)

Standing with a keen eye, I watched as the dozens of workers that my group had accumulated worked on the platform that would enable me to seize control of Cerinia, and that other planet that had recently been contacted by them. One of my soldiers ran up to me, and cowered in fear slightly took something out from his bag. It is only right that you should cower before I, the great and powerful, and soon to be ruler of Cerinia.

The underling handed a red envelope to me as he said, "T-This is the information you asked for f-from our man on the inside."

I raised my eyebrow as I asked, "Our man?"

The soldier flinched as he quickly fixed his mistake, "Y-Y-Your m-man, sir!"

Nodding, I waved my hand dismissively as I said, "Don't forget that, now get back to your tasks, or you will be flayed alive for wasting precious time." I watched as he quickly ran off to go do whatever it was he had planned, and I used one of my long claws and tore open the envelope and grabbed the paper from the inside. I looked it over quickly one time as I tossed the envelop behind me, but then my eyes widened and a sinister smile spread across my muzzle. I reread the message; just to be sure I hadn't read it incorrectly;

Dear Commander,

I have been informed, and confirmed myself, that the Governor is moving his troops around the planet, along with an increased productivity of small arms. He is hoping that when the humans accept his proposal to send Cerinians over to the other planet, he will distribute weapons to those that are going over there as a form of self-protection. The second term you have requested is on its way to your supply warehouse, and I included another bonus piece, just as a precaution should anything happen with the shipment. That piece will enable your device to safely travel between the planets, but it will also act as a failsafe should you device start to go into a form of shutdown (that will practically destroy your planet, considering how the astronomically altered magnetic fields and gravitational pools of the two nearby moons boost the devices output). Lastly, I have seen, and confirmed myself, the Princess grows restless from the constant flow of diplomats from the other world, and a new diplomat has recently been switched onto the planet with another human guardian. The human guardian is estimated to be heavily armored, lightly armed, but highly skilled; he is the one that is fully and entirely covered in clothing, even his eyes most of the time. The diplomat is most likely just another fool, and he will be easily dealt with, but you only need worry about keeping the guardian alive… we can interrogate him and acquire information about his home planet, ensuring a speedy and easy takeover of it with the information he provides. Until next time, I bid you good luck, and safety.

From your venom informant,

Vic Slash

Grumbling up the paper, I threw it over my back with a sinister chuckle, and a few of the technicians near me visibly began to shake, and I only grinned at them. I walked towards the doorway and I called out, "Someone go ready my vehicle, I'm going to get suited up…

I stormed into my study, and I started to walk over to my chair with my personal body armor and weapons. For a wolf of my stature, you would expect better helpers… all well, once I own this planet, and then that pathetic Earth, I should find competent staff to start taking over Lylat one planet, at a time…