*THE IMPERIAL PALACE OF TZERIA*
The ONLINE squad members marched through the large compound of the imperial palace, following behind two guards of the palace. The guards were equipped with heavy armor and guns.
The palace compound was very large that from the first gate, the main palace building could only be sighted as a blurry figure.
Helga looked around in awe. She stared at the beautiful scenery in front of her and the passing servants and other individuals that stared back at her.
Rusty and August were just as awestruck as Helga was, but Chántel on the other hand was barely taken aback by the scenery. She had a small smile on her face as she followed behind the others.
"Wow, this…" Helga stopped, trying to fully grasp her environment. "This is beyond beautiful." She slowed down to match up with the red-haired lady's speed. "Hey, are you sure this isn't a trap?"
"Relax, I guarantee this isn't some kind of trap," she reassured.
The brown-haired lady furrowed and tilted her head to the side, not fully agreeing with what the Chántel just said. "I don't know. It just spells trap. We are mercenaries that have been running different illegal missions on the planet, including breaking people out of prison. Why would the Queen invite us to her turf? To compliment us? They even had us submit all our weapons and you say to just go along with it."
Unlike other planets that practice political activities similar to that of democracy, the Imperial Tzeria uses the monarchy system of government, with the current ruler being a Queen.
"You should trust Chántel's decision, we have made it this far because of her brilliant ideas. So if she says it's not, then I'm sure it's not," August chipped in. He tilted his head such that she could see his side face. "And you're welcome, Chántel."
Chántel smiled sheepishly to herself. "Thank you," she said cheerfully. "Just trust me on this one too. And like you always say, have fun." She then threw her hand around the brown-haired woman's shoulder.
"Even if it is a trap, we'll simply punch our way out," Rusty said, clasping his clenched fist together.
Helga cast a sidelong look at Chántel before turning back to face front.
They continued further into the compound and eventually got closer to the palace. The group sighted their spaceship packed inside a glassed compartment. They were then halted by a man in a green suit and large frame glasses. Uyi stood behind said man, holding his hand behind his back.
"Welcome. Her imperial Majesty awaits your presence. This way please," the man said, leading them through a large golden double door.
"I thought you wouldn't come."
"Why wouldn't I? When one of us gets captured, we go for the rescue," Chántel smiled.
Uyi joined the four to walk by their side as the man led them. "I would have advised not to if it was someone else in my place."
As they stepped in through the door, the first thing they saw were guards. Guards were standing at every corner, staring at them with every step they took, monitoring their every move.
The building was a mixture of the normal building mode with the medieval age buildings. It had a few touches of the past years here and there which added to the beauty and imperiality. Large windows were built in to allow the sunlight to brighten up the place and make the golden objects glitter.
Carved into the ceiling was a diagram that looked like a map, no doubt the map of the imperial planet, Tzeria.
The man led them up a flight of stairs and into a large room that looks like a throne room but in this case, it had a large rectangular silver table in the middle with some golden chairs set round the table. "Please wait here, her imperial majesty will be with you in a couple of moments," he said before walking out through the door they came in through.
Chántel clasped her hands together and said out loud. "Well, now we wait." She sat on one of the many chairs in the room. Her crewmate reluctantly followed suit.
"You know," Rusty started. "If I had known that I'd get invited into the palace and not because I'm being charge for my crimes, I would have become a mercenary long before the time I did. This is insane."
Chántel breaks a small laugh. "It's just as I promised when I invited you to work for me, luxury, and a lot of fun."
"Or this could all turn out to be a setup and we just walked straight into the lion's den," Helga said, tapping her foot nervously on the ground.
"Oh for God's sake, Helga, this is not like you. We were at the military base just a few weeks ago and you didn't act nothing like you are now!" Chántel yelled.
As weird as it sounded, the crew were at the military base on the invite of the captain, who wanted the commander gone so he could be promoted to a higher rank.
"This is different."
"How is this any different from the military base?"
"I agree with Helga," Uyi chipped. "I see no reason why the Queen herself will go to the trouble to invite us into her palace…"
"Fine," the red-haired lady cut him short. "I guess it's only fair I explain how we got in this predicament. I…" Before she could complete her sentence, the door opened and the man in a suit walked into the room again. He held the door open for the Queen to enter.
The Queen had tanned skin with long yellow hair which smoothly poured down her back and complemented her red eyes. Her pointed nose sat above a heart-shaped lips. And just like every other Tzerian, she had pointed ears.
A bright red furry garment hung from her neck over her back, arms, and shoulders. It had some pieces of jewelry: golds, and diamonds planted beautifully on it. Underneath the furry garment was a long white dress with a little gap on the side, and a crown made out of diamond rested on her head.
"Sorry to keep you all waiting," she said with a soft, and soothing voice. She gracefully paced to the front of the table and sat on a larger, more designed chair among the other chairs.
She leaned back on the chair and looked up at the ONLINE members. "If you don't mind, I'd like to speak to your leader alone." She then turned to the man in a suit. "Jerry, take them, I'm sure they are tired from their long journey," the Queen ordered.
"This way," Jerry said but they don't comply. The crew members remained sitting, quietly staring at Chántel and the queen.
The yellow-haired lady nodded and smiled. "Except on any transgressions on your side, my soldiers shall not raise even a finger on you. You have my words," she assured.
Chántel nodded at them before they finally follow the man out of the room, leaving Chántel, the Queen, and a few other guards.
"Leave us," the queen ordered.
The guards present bow before stepping out of the room. They duo waited a few seconds before the yellow-haired woman let out a hefty sigh.
"I hate you, sis."
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