A Zusi's Path

Chapter 25: Exile

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Many voices surrounded the dark blue Zusi as he suddenly was hit with a bright light beaming straight at his face. Groaning and waking up slowly, Re3x0 woke up and he heard an uproar of voices around him. His eyes adjusting to the light he saw what appeared to be every Zusi in the town. Trying to quickly move out of the way he slammed into the metal bars of a cage. Upon further inspection Re3x0 was trapped in a metal cage, the bars thick and close together, any chance of escape was impossible. His paws and feet were chained together by cuffs. Panic began to flood through the young Zusi.

"Now that our guest is awake, we shall start with the judgement." An old and scratchy voice sounded, and the chatter of everyone else went into silence. Re3x0 could hear his heart pounding in his chest as he frantically looked around into the crowd, seeing mostly unfamiliar faces. Finally he spotted D6a50, E4r1c, and Rw63y all together. He almost wanted to call out to them, then he remembered, they were the ones who brought him in. His fear shifted into anger as he felt a growl well up in his throat. Looking up to the elder voice that silenced the rest, he was a pale greenish grey Zusi, his muzzle white and his fur very shaggy and long. His horns were longer than any other Zusi he had seen, it was long and cracked with age, and had even started to yellow. He was wearing a white robe with golden stitching on it.

"Re3x0. You are trialed with the breaking and entering of the Capital's Armory, starting a fire that destroyed the entire building, destroying a part of our forest, and badly damaging apart of the Center Capital Building." Before the Elder could finish Re3x0 blurted out, "I never started that fire! It was the sky that caused it!" He hissed, his yellow eyes narrowed in spite. "Silence! During the Cold Season the sky never caused fires. It is too cold and wet for that sort of thing." the Elder objected. Before Re3x0 could continue to speak the Elder continued, "You directly took the lives of two Zusi and with the flames you brought, indirectly took the lives of seven others! All of which whose families are around you now." Re3x0 was flabbergasted as he saw so many hostile looks from the crowd towards him. I didn't start that fire though!

"Also on your conviction, you are brought with the kidnapping and attempted murder of a family friend." The Elder added on, "I never kidnapped her! Nor did I try to kill you! I don't know what she told you but SHE let me in, she said I could rest there!" Re3x0 felt his blood boiling with rage, the only thing he did was kill the guard and 5k01L. "I only did the two murders, that is what I will admit to. The rest I DID NOT do the rest of the accusations!" He snarled, a few Zusi that were the closest flinched and took a step back from the cage.

"I would like to add more to this so you know the truth." A dark voice sounded from behind Re3x0 and Elder who was proceeding with the trial. Re3x0 looked behind him and a gasp escaped from the crowd. Di3m8 emerged from the crowd, his bicolored gaze seemed indifferent. "What do we have here, another criminal?" The Elder sneered, his narrowed gaze was full of bitterness. "I am, but I have done all of my time I was charged for. I am free now, I though do have something you want to hear." Di3m8 said, his voice carrying to tone that made Re3x0 freeze.

The Elder was very skeptical but he gave a nod, allowing Di3m8 to speak what he wanted to. "I once called myself a friend of Re3x0. In some ways he was like a son to me." The black and white Zusi began, "Though, shortly before all this happened he confined in me and told me of his plan. He tried to get my group's help but we all declined. I sent my closest ally to try and stop him. I can confirm that it was Re3x0s plan to start the fire, he killed my comrad 5k01L who tried to stop him. And much more. I cannot live with myself if I let his treachery go unpunished-"

Fury burned through Re3x0, he was being lied about and called out, reaching his paws out of the bars of the cage and tried to grab at Di3m8, "Liar!" he screeched, his words spitting with hatred. "I never told you anything! You can't lie to them all about this!" Re3x0 snarled, causing a gasp from the crowd. Di3m8 looked at the caged Zusi, "You really believe him? I went out of my way to come here. To make sure 5k01L got justice!" His words came up with an uproar of approval from the crowd of Zusi. Anger prickled at Re3x0, and to finish it off, Di3m8 turned around to face the cage and in a low voice he whispered to him. "I know you killed 5k01L. That is all I needed to hear to make you pay for that. 5k01L was the only thing I had left of my beloved. He was not mine but I cared for him like my own. You took that from me!" Di3m8 hissed, "Have fun with whatever ends up with trash like you."

Di3m8 slid off from the crowd and back into the shadows. Re3x0 stood there stunned, he knew he had no chance at redemption. The Elder raised his paw, making the entire crowd silent as he took back control of the situation. "Alright. So I am pretty clear that we all agree that Re3x0 is guilty. What punishment is suitable for a cold-hearted coward?" The Elder asked as he paced back and forth. "Death is too kind of a punishment, imprisonment is too risky as scum can slip through the cracks." The Elder continued on. "Exile!" He came to the realization, "Exile from this Species is too kind. Exile from this planet it the only way!

D6a50 took a step away from the crowd, "Sir, we have never done an Exile from the planet before." He inquired. "Not yet we have. Now D6a50, you have done a lot for this Capital. If you truly believe your son is innocent of all crimes, you still do have your one pardon left." Re3x0 felt a glimmer of hope as he looked at his father, then it was suddenly shot down. "I do not think he is innocent. He is as guilty as they come." D6a50 said, averting his youngest son's gaze. Re3x0 took a step away from the cage bars and stood there looking at his paws.

"So it is decided then! Guards! Take him away!" The Elder commanded, and Four Zusi went to the bars of the cage and ended up forcefully taking Re3x0 out and shoved him along with them. The crowd clearing out as the guards escorted him away.

Re3x0 finally realized, this was it. This is how it ended, he was blamed for things he did not do. Yes he did kill 5k01L and that guard, but he didn't start the fire, killed the other civilians, nor did he hurt or hold Rw63y hostage.