Planet Masquerade

Log 1

Kallan watched the refugees file out of the cargo room silently, from his shaded position on the catwalk. He sighed deeply at their number, covering his face with a black-gloved hand, before returning it regally behind his back, and continuing to examine them deftly. The absence of his hand revealed a set of dark, high tech glasses, completely blacking out his eyes. He took a step back, away from the railing, his black uniform blending heavily with the shadows. “Saurai.”

“Yes, sir, Captain, sir?” Quipped a young man at his side, who, though older by a few years, was is subordinate.

“Did I begin such a career and come to such a position to pirate refugees as well as cargo?” Kallan asked, toneless. His raven black hair fell over his pale face, covering his eyes.

Saurai shifted nervously at his captain's side. Kallan was known to have quick changes in mood, and his current demeanor seamed ominous of worse things to come. “No, sir. I don't believe so, sir. Sir, what would you have me do about them, sir?”

“It's not as though we haven't been through this before...” Kallan mused after a moment, covering his mouth with his hand once more as he watched more of his subordinates nudged the group forwards with the barrels of their rifles. “You see if they have money to pay now, and if not...”

“If not, sir?” Saurai asked, though he was quite sure he knew the answer. Kallan didn't reply, but he turned away from the catwalk, and gestured with a gloved hand, running a finger across his neck. Saurai nodded. “I understand, sir...”

“Good,” Kallan said, exasperated. He looked out over the trembling group, and continued, though he prepared to leave for more important matters. “Then I expect you'll take care of it Saurai, I-” He stopped suddenly, and turned to the edge of the catwalk, dangerously near to being seen.

Saurai's superior only continued to gaze spacily at the small crowd of people. Something shimmering and white had caught Kallan's eye... The head of a beautiful young man being jostled angrily by his crew. The boy glared proudly at one man who pushed him particularly roughly, his long white hair falling over his beautifully featured face.

“S-sir?” Saurai asked, confused. “Wh-what would you have me do, sir?” He asked again, sure his captain had yet again changed his mind.

“Nothing...” Kallan replied distantly, staring out over the railing intently. “Just... Oh, no, wait...” He pulled back, stepping once more into the shadow, the heels of his black leather shoes clicking as he stepped further into the darkness, and further into his former persona. “Have them go to the mess hall, and then let none leave.” Saurai just nodded the whole time, and Kallan continued to brief him. “I'll deal with them myself...”

“Yes, capt-”

“No, I am not your captain.” Kallan said softly, removing the dark, mask-like glasses he wore. He looked up at a bewildered Saurai, smiling, his golden eyes glittering through his black bangs. “Kallan... Just Kallan.”

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Kaoru let his silvery-white hair fall over his face. He didn't want to be seen... To be recognized. It was hard when the damnable pirates kept pushing him in various directions, knocking him into both themselves and other refugees. Lovely golden eyes glared at a pirate who shoved him particularly hard in the side with his gun.

Stumbling forwards, he looked up to a catwalk above him, and caught a glimpse of two darkened figures. His stomach spun for a moment, though he had no idea why, and then settled quickly as one of the figures suddenly disappeared. He stared up at the remaining one, who abruptly jumped over the railing, and landed crouched on his feet.

Kaoru stared at him for a moment, as his long brown hair fell slowly about him and he straightened, and then quickly looked down and away. “I'm first mate Saurai, welcome to the P.S.S. In'syrcilan.” He continued to talk, but Kaoru paled at his only his first sentence for two reasons.

One... the P.S.S. In'syrcilan... P.S.S. meant pirate star ship, and the In'syrcilan was one of the most notorious of them all. Two: Saurai. That name was Myrnian, as was Kaoru... If the first mate was really from Kaoru's home planet of Myrna, that meant he would surely be recognized. The young man stumbled forwards as the people about him began to move.

“Please, no pushing,” the brown haired Saurai called to them as they were led out a door. “We can do this rather easily, just give me your name, so we can get an accurate count...” Kaoru's heart pounded. With his white hair, and plainly Myrnian name, he was sure to be recognized by his fellow Myrnian.

“And yours?” Saurai asked, startling Kaoru, who made a point to keep his head bent, and his hair covering his ears. His ears that very much matched Saurai's own pointed ones.

“It... I... It's...” Kaoru's head swam. What should he say? He'd never been creative, and his mind had never been quick enough to do so quickly. “Ka... That is it's...”

“K?”

“Wh-what?” Kaoru asked, looking up, and then back down quickly as his golden eyes met Saurai's forest green for a split second.

“You said your name was K?” Saurai asked after a long pause, confusion lacing his voice. Strange relief flooded over Kaoru, and he just nodded hastily, before rushing through the door after the others.

Sitting alone in a corner of the mess hall, Kaoru silently wondered if this was all worth it. He pulled his knees up to his chest, and buried his head in his arms, his long, shimmering hair falling over him. He closed his golden eyes tight, just hoping he hadn't gotten himself into more trouble by hiding away on the ship with all the other refugees.

He'd been ‘vacationing' on an Illdaurian moon, though it was more of a political endeavor than anything. He and his company had been attacked, and they'd all... They'd all died. Kaoru's eyes watered, and he closed them tighter, willing the tears away. Princes weren't supposed to cry...

He sniffed softly, and wiped his eyes, before pouting royally, and glaring down at the gleaming floor, inwardly cursing another prince; the prince of the red planet Valmur, Rand. Everything had been the blond imbecile's fault... He'd been the one to order the attack on Kaoru, and he'd been the one to personally murder every single one of Kaoru's companions.

Kaoru hated him with a passion for ruining his life. He couldn't even begin to grasp the infinite possibilities as to why Rand would want him so desperately. However, conquering both his planet, and Irim, Myrna's sister planet, was first on his mind. Though Irim and Myrna were by no means on friendly terms, if Valmuran forces managed to take Myrna, there was no doubt that Rand would be able to conquer Irim as well, as the planets were so close.

The young prince inwardly cursed both Rand and himself. If he hadn't been so weak... Then this wouldn't have happened. He could have been a war-crazed prince like Rand, but no... He was just another pretty royal child, incapable of anything. He was weak, and Rand loved to torment those weaker than him... Kaoru had seen that look in Rand's heartless blue eyes before... The look of wanting Rand had for him, to torture him, to-

Kaoru shuddered. There was no use getting himself into a craze over someone who couldn't hurt him at the moment. Though just the thought of what he just knew Rand would like to do to him sent his frail form trembling once more.

“Are you cold?”

Surprised, Kaoru looked up suddenly, just barely remembering to make sure his long hair stayed over his ears. Before him stood the deft young man who had managed to sneak up on him, grinning down at him in an overly friendly way. Continuing to smile, the young man extended a hand down to Kaoru, and said, “You just missed the briefing I gave everyone else... They were all assigned to bunks, already.”

“I-I am sorry...” Kaoru said meekly, though he had no idea why, the same feeling he'd had earlier returning to his stomach. “I didn't realize I'd missed it, I...” He placed his hand in the gloved other's, who swiftly pulled him up. Kaoru hadn't been expecting such strength from the relatively lithe figure, and practically fell into his arms.

“It's fine,” he said, looking down at Kaoru, seeming rather pleased with himself, and not even bothering to create more of a distance between them. “We'll just have to... Bed you somewhere else.” Kaoru swallowed, disliking the young man's implications, and pulled away. “Saurai said your name was... K. Is that true?”

“I uh...” Kaoru panicked, fully removing himself from the young man's touch. “Y-yes... That's the name I gave him...” He looked away, all too aware of the fact that he was a horrible liar. The other only smirked slightly, with a knowing gaze that caused Kaoru to shudder softly for a third time.

“You are cold,” he said, beginning to unzip his black shirt. Kaoru's face reddened, and he shook his head, opening his mouth to protest. All he received was a gloved hand to his mouth, silencing him. “Shush, and just put it on,” he smiled, his golden eyes sparkling. Kaoru accepted only after he was relieved to discover he was wearing a black shirt under what he now assumed was a jacket.

Placing the much too large jacket around the prince, the black haired young man looked him over thoughtfully, still smiling, delighted. “Well, K... Welcome to the In'syrcilan... My name is Kallan. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”