For Garrrr

[hybrid_prince]

They call it a gift when they bring it before the throne. Dorrek VIII, young emperor of the Skrull people, barely even bothered to pay any attention to the cloth covered box that was rolled up before the throne. These particular military leaders weren't much of ones that he cared for, and frankly while he was invested in the eventual journey to Earth and conquering it as was his lofty and prophesied fate from long since before he was born, that didn't mean he cared too much about the recon team he had sent. They annoyed him, and sending them to a planet protected by 'heroes' had been meant as a punishment.

The 'gift' to get back into his good graces didn't seem likely to amuse him in any way. There was nothing intriguing about Earth. So the Emperor had ignored their simpering and scrapping before him. It was unbecoming of a Skrull to be anything other than strong and dominating warriors. Still, he cut off their rambling dialog and waved to one of his royal guard. K'lrt, ever the devoted servant, stepped forward and whipped the cloth off.

And Dorrek considered what was presented to him with a raised eyebrow. This, of course, was not what he'd been expected. He hadn't expected a living being.

"Where did you find it?" he asked in Skrull, continuing the conversation in his native tongue.

"It attempted to attack us," one of the generals, who was kneeling out of reach of the cage spoke. "It is more than it seems. Like Skrull, but not."

Intriguing. Dorrek gestured for the clear tank on wheels (with air holes of course), to be rolled closer. Let him better see this prize.

Comments

[hybrid_prince]

"While you see it as unnecessary, the fact is that fate is fate," the Emperor shrugs as he starts picking at food. "And the origin of it is not your concern. We will take your world, and shed the least blood we can. Humanity shall be a vassal state to the Skrull. Your people will benefit, the ones smart enough to bend the knee. We have technology as you cannot fathom. Medicine and advances to clean your planet."

They are destroying it anyway. As for the other thing, the Emperor rolls his shoulders.

"Skrull are one of few species in the universe that can alter themselves. And even we cannot become animals. You intrigue me."

[garrrr]

Gar thinks fate is stupid and a load of bullshit but this guy seems to believe in it so saying as much doesn’t really have any point.

“So you’re basically just going to make us your slaves and tell us it’s for our own good,” Gar rolls his eyes. He can’t help it. Behaving really isn’t his strong suit on a good day.... and he is not having a good day at all.

“Great. So are you going to torture and experiment on me too? Because I could really pass on that....”

[hybrid_prince]

Fate is not stupid. Or so is the belief of a man who was raised to believe it with all of his heart. But he doesn't see the point to arguing with such a creature as Gar.

"Slaves? Hardly," Dorrek dismisses. "We will rule, not enslave. We're not that crass."

And yet here he is, with Gar. A captive. An oddity. Hardly can believe that. But he huffs at Gar asking if he would be tortured and experimented on.

"No, why would we do that?"

[garrrr]

"Same thing," Gar mutters because what it sounded like to him is that you weren't going to have a choice but be ruled which means you definitely weren't free... and they're not making a great name for themselves all considering Gar's position.

Though, what Gar thinks probably doesn't matter much considering he's been treating like a pet of sorts thus far. He crosses his arms at the question.

"Why wouldn't you? You'd take over a world that doesn't want you and I'm pretty sure you've killed some of my friends already so..."

[hybrid_prince]

Well, the emperor didn't choose the position. But yes, he is definitely keeping the guy here.

"I have not seen the after action report. I have no idea what happened to your people. But the world is meant to be ours, we are the Skrull, we rule others. Lessers."

But then he looks at Gar, tilting his head and smiling a little.

"You are clearly a higher form of your species."

[garrrr]

Gar just rolls his eyes. "People like you don't typically turn out to be the good guys in the history books," at least on Earth maybe it's different...

Gar doesn't trust the other's smile, doesn't trust anything about him.

"I'm just a science experiment is all. I wasn't born with any special abilities."

[hybrid_prince]

Oh Gar, poor boy, don't you get it? Dorrek was a savior of his people. A great unifier to be. He's definitely a good guy.

"Or you were always special, and didn't know it," Dorrek counters.

[garrrr]

They'll just have to agree to disagree!

"That's ridiculous," Gar shakes his head and shrugs. "It doesn't matter anyway."

[hybrid_prince]

"Perhaps not."

Humans would respond better to a human overseer. Perhaps the young man could serve that roll, in time.

"For now, you should eat. Rest. All of your needs will be seen to."

[garrrr]

"What about my need to go back home to everyone I care about?" Gar retorts, looking up at the other again for the first time in quite a bit.

[hybrid_prince]

The emperor sighs and looks at Gar, setting side his plate of food. Already the young man has ruined his appetite. Who the idiot was that has the man brought to his chambers was beyond Dorrek. He'd figure that out and punish them. He didn't need a mouthy human in his space.

"You are aware of the Skrull and our intentions for your world. Of course you cannot be allowed to return at this time."

[garrrr]

"No one would believe me if I said anything..." Gar exhales but he knows he's not going to be able to convince him.

"So I'm just...a prisoner here then."

Which is worse than when he'd been at the Doom Manor at least that sort of felt like a home with people he cared about.

[hybrid_prince]

It is too early to be a prisoner of war, so that is clearly not what Gar counts as. But he most definitely was taken, against his will, by Dorrek's men. Men that had started conflict when they were merely supposed to scout.

"I will see to it that the men who took you are punished. But at this time, you must remain a guest of the imperial house. If it is your wish, I will see to it that you have space for yourself. It is the best I can allow. The band you wear, it is used to restrain our own criminals. It will keep you from bringing harm to my household."

[garrrr]

"That doesn't help," Gar exhales. He doesn't care if the men are punished by this guy. He scoffs a bit when the other says the word guest.

"So I'm a prisoner, guests can leave. But fine, whatever," he's tired and angry and he's still scared.

[hybrid_prince]

“A long term guest,” Dorrek corrects lightly. “And that will be as easy or as hard on you as you choose to make it. Or if you wish, consider yourself an ambassador of your people.”

[garrrr]

“You can dress it up anyway you like...” Gar sighs, crossing his arms.

“So can I get away from you now?”

A part of him is saying he should be nice, make the best he can.

[hybrid_prince]

Ah. Well it is to be expected. Dorrek sighs and stands, moving to the door and gesturing for the young man to join him.

“I will assign you a guard for now,” he decides. “Many here understand English. Those that do not have translators. I will see you have a room prepared. Tomorrow you will have free roam of the palace, unless guards bar you.”

[garrrr]

Time has passed slowly. It was miserable. Gar had never been as sad as he was here. There was barely anyone to talk to, no one, and if they did talk it was to be cruel or insulting. There were a few times guards had gotten rough but they knew there were limits to what they’d be able to get away with. They all knew Gar could have a big mouth and if things got back to their leader? Hard to say.

Gar had been miserable, though. He missed Earth, his friends... family, his video games. He’d tried to figure out ways to contact Earth but this far he’d been completely unsuccessful. He couldn’t really shift here. He was trapped in every way and isolated to the point that Dorrek was almost someone he liked. The only person to talk to him with anything resembling civility. He knew that the other was still the reason he was here, still the bad guy but he felt a lot less like a bad guy.

It was one of the times he’s been called to the other. Gar had had a particularly rough day before that.

“Can you really not let me go home?” He asks quietly, it’s sadder than he’s sounded around the other in some time and it had been a question he’d stopped asking.

[hybrid_prince]

It was one of those rare evenings when the Emperor has invited Gar to his chambers for a meal. Often the purpose was to pry on Gar’s life back home, to give lofty histories of his people, clearly trying to woo the young man to a new way of thinking. And as always he opened with asking if there was anything his young guest could want. After all, he wasn’t cruel to Gar. Not directly. But something might be said about what he let his people get away with.

But the question, oft asked, was just as oft ignored. This time, though, Dorrek frowned at him. Months and he was getting angry and annoyed.

“You know I cannot. And still you ask. Do I not provide for you here? You are safe and well fed and live a peaceful life. I could have had you killed instead.”

[garrrr]

“It’s miserable here. You might as well have killed me. Everyone seems to think you should have,” Gar retorts.

“I have nothing here and everyone hates me.”

[hybrid_prince]

Miserable here? That gets a raised eyebrow from Dorrek, and a tilt of his head.

"I do not believe everyone here hates you, Gar. To suggest such would be in accurate. I do not hate you. My household has no reason to hate you. And you have a freedom to move about this palace that few others possess. Surely that is comfortable enough," he argues

[garrrr]

“You are the only one who talks to me like I can understand words at all and like I’m not just a rat...”

Gar looks away from him. “There’s no freedom here, not with all of them...”

[hybrid_prince]

"Explain," Dorrek says, his voice hard and demanding. Clearly he wants to deal with whatever the problem is.

[garrrr]

“What is there to explain? Everyone here hates me and doesn’t want me here,” Gar says and he lifts a shoulder.

“I’m given the basics to survive but that’s all.”

[hybrid_prince]

That is clearly not enough of an explanation. Dorrek rises and moves toward the door, his footsteps heavy and his hands giving way to claws as he does so. And he says nothing to Gar.

Clearly someone will be in trouble shortly.