Umm . . . Er . . . How am I going to write this? Report four of my time on the planet of Gaia. I understand my time is short here. I know that I may not return back to my family or the spaceship. So as of now this is my new last will and testament. To my parents, I leave no material goods. To my beloved sister, Jenna G. Brute, I leave all of my research on plants and worldly money. To my best friend Harris, I leave my remorse we had that stupid fight over superheroes. I grant him my action figure of Lady Luna. To my little brother, Arial V. Brute, who mistakenly ejected me on the escape pod, I leave my collection of rare plants. To my least favorite person and horrible elder sister, Angel Brute, who I know cut off my transmissions for help and ignored me, I leave my forgiveness for what you have done- Oh God! I am going to die! I am going to die! Steady, Tank. Steady, old boy. Excuse me; I need to gather myself together. End recording for now. . .

I am hearing a story I already know the ending to. Rather I am living that story and it does not end happily ever after. As I sit perfectly still in the fabulous chair of honor Oz has place me in. I swallow hard. Beside me Kitsune giggles lightheartedly at a joke. Her hair and dress are as fancy as she was at the Peach Blossom Teahouse. You know minus the enchantment she had during our first meeting.

She turns to me with a content look and unfolds her fan. It flutters before her face as she leans in and whispers to me, "Oh Honorable Leader, you must hear the latest joke of our town's mayor. Would you like to know it?"

"No thank you . . ." I grumble, "I am fine just watching you have a good time."

I hardly breathe behind this mask on my face. I swear the temperature inside of here is getting unbearable. Then there is all of the chattering of these rich so- and- sos. It drives me mad. I coldly stare at Kitsune. She ordered me earlier not to speak with anyone directly here at the party, because that is apparently something that the Great Leader doesn't do.

Zoning in on a plate of sweetmeats, roosted apples, and white rice makes my mouth water. It has been ages since my last meal. It has been even longer since my last drink of water. My stomach roars loudly. I sigh. All the while Kitsune sips a cool glass of red wine and smiles a charming grin at the mayor of this horrible town. Her eyes drift back to me in mockery. I know she had offered me a meal earlier, but I couldn't say anything. I didn't do anything. Oh, I think the shock of being poison is enough to make one forget his need to eat. So now I have to sit here before the plate and starve.

If I think too much again as I did before arriving here I fear I will lose myself. I must live through this betrayal, somehow save Oz, hunt down Sage, and get out of this town. Then and only then can I get back to Meo and find my ticket off this planet. I pause. Kitsune lightly touches my hand and stands up from the table.

There is a sudden trumping of music from the main ballroom area. The lively sea of guests goes into a hush. At last, someone comes into view at the center of the ballroom. He is a smallish creature with the upper body of a lion and the lower body of a goat. He wears a short form fitting green coat. His expression is filled with joy and he holds out his hands, "Good evening, everyone. I am glad you have made it here on this special day of the Lunar Festival. We not only celebrate the new year, but the day of my only child's birth. Please welcome my daughter, Sheva!"

A tiny child walks forward happily and joins her father. She wears large embroidered veils over her face down to her toes. Two hands slip out from under the veils as she lifts her outfit and bows. Her voice rings out, "Thank you for coming. Happy Lunar Festival!"

Oz turns to his daughter and pats her head. The music resumes playing again as Oz escorts his daughter around the ballroom. I motion to rip off my mask and throw up. Kitsune grabs my arm firmly. She shakes her head at me. How can I go on this way!? I cannot be a part of a plot for murder. The man has a child. I am going to create an orphan! An orphan!

Kitsune spins me around. There before me stands Oz only a foot away with his daughter. The child comes and grabs Kistune with overwhelming joy. She shouts, "Greetings honorable guests!"

Kitsune greets the child and she looks over at me. I start to move to get up and greet the girl. But Kistune stops me. She gives me a look of death. I heatedly whisper, "Well what am I to do!?"

"My Lord must do nothing. Only listen to the child," Kitsune answers. Her coppery eyes reveal traces of annoyance. She flutters her fan even more and turns back to the child. The two carry on a polite chat, until Oz butts in. He instructs the child away to mingle with the other guests. As Sheva skips off a new air fills our space.

Oz greets Kitsune with a kind smile and distrusting graze. He addresses me, through her, "Good evening, sir. How are you and your escort enjoying the party? Do you require anything?"

Kitsune holds her fan up and gingerly whisper the exact phrases Oz said. I really hate this game of telephone. I directly answer Oz, "Yes, I could use something. I need a private room, wine, good food, and an audience with you!"

Kitsune stares at me shocked. My lovely escort coughs and politely dismisses what I said as a joke. Oz's face shows confusion and he starts to laugh. I feel myself boiling in anger as she bushes me off as a child. Oz nods to my requests and a servant arrives from almost nowhere. But somehow we end up in a nice private room with a cold cross breeze in the room. There are half a dozen lit lanterns everywhere throughout the room. It has a spread of even better food compared to that of the party. A chilled bottle of wine sits in the middle of the table with three glasses. It is a sign that Oz will be here in due time. I peer across the room in a quick sweep. There are four or five windows for a quick escape that are open. I can hardly make out the moonlight from here. I think there are bookshelves throughout the room. Is that a globe? Whatever. I don't have time for nonsense.

I rip off the hot fox mask. My body trembles now. I hear the slight cracking of the mask between my fingers. Kitsune embraces me from behind and holds my hand softly. Her claw curls around my shoulder. She leans so her cheek is against my cheek. She lingers as if to go for a kiss, when I pull away. She releases my shoulder, laughs, and walks over to the table. In a very low voice she begins, "You have done a very foolish thing, you know? Inviting Oz to a private meeting with you is not part of the plan. You may not live until tomorrow, if you do not play by the rules."

"I am not in the mood for games!" I nearly shout. I hear the further cracking of the mask in my hand. Kitsune watches me carefully. I feel faint as I lean against a wall, Kitsune rushes to my side. She seems worried. She pulls me over to a chair and grabs a lantern. The light draws close to my face as I blink slowly. Kitsune mutters something to herself and pours a glass of wine for me. She pours in a small powder and mixes it around.

"Drink this," She commands.

"Why should I? Oz could have poisoned it. You could have poisoned as well to finish me off."

"Stop being dramatic and drink this, Blue. You're no good to me dead before the mission is complete."

I roll my eyes. I feel rotten and with my last few hours. . . I don't want to be taken for a ride. I grab the wineglass and push it to her. She sighs and drinks the wine slowly. Then she hands it back to me as if to signal it is safe to drink. I wait for a period to see if she falls over dead. I barely hold the glass, "If you poured something in it and it was poison. You could have built a resistance to it."

"It is not poison! Just drink it."

"I refuse."

"By the gods! You are impossible tonight. I drank it and I am not dead. Now be a good boy, Blue, and do as you are told."

"Why should I? If I refuse, I will be dead by the morning."

"So if you plan on being dead by morning, does it really matter if the drink is poisoned now? You wouldn't have time to care then. I have told you I need you alive for the rest of the night. Now drink."

I sneer at her. How I wish I had my laser gun functioning. I could shoot her right in the face- Easy Tank. You are a scientist. You do not destroy people because you do not like them. You are not a solider like your father before you. You do not go around attacking men for no good reason. And you especially do not attack a woman just because she has poisoned you, held you captive, and she is troublesome. You are better than your father. You are a scientist, who is well respected by his co-workers. Okay, I am respected by a co-worker. But I am a scientist.

I hold the wine glass to my lips and drink it. It is a bland tasting substance. I feel somewhat some alive. I look at Kistune. She smirks and moves aside to allow me access to the table. I step past her and begin to make a plate of food. Kitsune stares at me in disbelief as I pig out and eat with my mouth open. I turn back to her with sweat dripping down the sides of my face. I scowl at her. She picks up her fan and fans herself again. She is so annoying. I stuff down several buns and a turkey leg into my mouth. It has been hours since I was able to eat. It tastes so good!

Without thinking, I begin to strip off the hot layers of heavy cloak and stiff kimonos. Kitsune becomes horrified and fusses to put the layers back on me. I argue in the heated room and peel back the outer layer. The door starts to open from the entry. Kitsune's eyes widen as she fumbles about. She grabs the mask from the table and places it on my face. I am about to shout about the heat as Oz comes into the room. The politician scans about the room. He closes his eyes for a second as he noted my disarrayed state. I feel myself blushing as Kitsune covers her face and neatens me quickly.

Oz coughs, "Do you need a few more moments?"

"No, no. We are already here," Kistune says as she sits upright.

I blink slowly behind the mask.

Oz approaches with a grin. He finds a chair in the room. Together we sit in the cold room. Oz picks up a glass from the nearby table. He gazes about the room's lanterns. He turns to the side for a moment as if he saw something in the shadows of the dark room. Oz's eyes drifts over to my friend and parts his lips, "Tell me, Honorable Leader. What kind of world do you want?"

"A logical one, of course," I answer without hesitation.

"A logical one? I thought you would surly answer something more poetic."

"I think the world should be run rationally. We need to ensure people are treated in a kind way which is justice for everyone. The best way would be done by using the mind to create a society of logic."

"I never thought you would be interested in the ideal of the Nomadic City, Honorable Leader," Oz holds up his cup, "What do you think of this?"

Kitsune fans herself, "I think it is best to allow compassion to guide the actions of the people."

Oz nods, "I see. . . Oh Honorable Leader for what reason do you seek me to a private audience?"

"I think it best for me to discuss you a topic without my friend here."

Kitsune narrows her eyes. She stands and straightens her outfit. With a toss of her hair aside, she suddenly has something in her hand. Rushing toward Oz, she holds a flower in her hand. Kitsune calmly stares over Oz and offers him the flower. A look of horror and disbelief fills his face. He silently he breaks into a smile, "Ah Honorable Leader, I see your humor at play. The sweet geshia to try frighten me. Funny, very funny."

I drop my mouth open a little. Oz pauses in the dim of the lantern light. He points to the crack in the mask and looks closer. Oz taps his chin. Kitsune still has not left her position. Oz points to my eyes, "Honorable Leader, I mean not to stare, but I have not realized that you have damaged your mask."

"Yea. . ." I sputter. "Um, miss, please stop joking with our host."

I make an odd hand motion to Kitsune. She pauses and smiles gently. It is a weird giggle. She innocently sits beside me again. Her hand places the flower on Oz's jacket. Oz nods, "So what do I owe the pleasure of this requested audience?"

With my heart beating, I swallow. "Mr. Oz, I have called you here as I fear that someone is trying to take your life."

Kitsune stares at me blankly. Oz frowns, "That is terrible news! Why today is my dear child's birthday and the New Year! How could ever someone think such a thing?"

I stare at Kitsune. She covers her face with a groan. Our host innocently looks upon us both with a good hearted laugh. He points to both of us, "I bet neither of you is the real leader of Vitoz Gang. The real leader of the Vitoz Gang Leader has been gone for a while. So were you both threaten do to this? Or was this one of his jokes from afar? For I have meet the real Leader of the Vitoz."

"I . . ." I bit my tongue.

"Yes, one of his jokes from afar," Kitsune laughs.

"Good, good." Oz claps his hands and out from the shadows comes Sage.

Sage smiles and does a little bow. He tips his top hat and his rim glasses glimmer in the dim light. He adjust his glasses as Kitsune stares at him. I almost spring on him as Kitsune grabs on my hand. Her claws dig into my arm. Sage proudly leans onto the wall. He gestures to Oz, "Ah, I am glad you found my friend. I told you I would be back once the act was done. You see Oz he has been missing for two weeks. Our friend, Meo, has been too. I had a hunch I would find him here. Oz, you were right."

"I told you, Sage, that the Vitoz Gang has a sense of humor. See you get back your friend and I get what I wanted." Oz puts his hands together.

"What would that be Oz?" Sage pauses.

Kitsune whips up from her chair and knocks out Sage cold. It all happens in a blink of an eye. Oz takes out a cigar and lights it up. He puffs on it as his eyes stare down at the floor. Kitsune ties up Sage quickly. The fox woman finishes and gags him before he can speak another word. Oz claps his hands, "I am done with my debt to the Vitoz Gang. Miss Kitsune, I believe that makes us square."

Kitsune brushes her hair behind her ear, "Yes, Oz, it does."

"What of this killing Oz stuff!?" I shout.

"It was a trap to get Sage to come out of hiding." Kistune coolly say.

"And the whole poisoning me affair?"

"It was a placebo. You are fine, Blue," Kitsune nods to me.

"I am fine. . ."

"Yes, Blue?"

"Grand!" I declare.

Here is where I fainted from the heat of the room.