Betrayal

Remy trembled as the shoulder cloak that signified his membership in the Bounty Hunter Guild shifted in his hands. But his instinct told him not to flinch, not to show weakness, for to do so would mean his death. He held the cloak as the previous and current members smiled at his acceptance. After totally regaining his composure, he stood with his feet together and bowed lowly to Lilian, the leader of the Bounty Hunter Guild.

"Now," said Lilian calmly, "you must undergo the test all members take after acceptance. You are to hunt a member of another guild. In doing so, you will be considered a true bounty hunter. After all, a bounty hunter's business is to hunt, is it not?" Remy nodded nervously at the command. "Your target shall be Ketsura Nagiyami of the Future Knight Guild. That is who you are going to eliminate." Remy nearly fell back in surprise and grief at hearing the identification of his target. Immediately, his memory fell back to that of his childhood friend Ket.

Ket was a brother in Remy's eyes. Many were the times they spent together. Growing up together ever since the age of seven, they had quickly become close friends. They always stood by each other during times of adversity and shared the joy in times of triumph and happiness. At the age of twelve, Remy became the target of a covert, underground government operation of drug testing. Subjected to a drug that gave him powers, Remy used the rage of the untimely death of both his parents combined with the turmoil that raged in a post-apocalyptic world as an excuse to use his power. Abandoned by all but Ket, young Remy fell prey to all types of emotional and physical turmoil as the side effects of the drug took its toll. Ket, not willing to stand by watching his friend deteriorate, advanced upon Remy and convinced him about all that he would be doing by continuing to use his powers for violence and greed in a world with enough of that to go around. Remy, convinced that good always overcame evil, decided to side wi th Ket and not use his powers to aid the corruption plaguing the world they lived in. That experience brought Remy and Ket all the more together. Now inseparable friends, the dynamic duo vowed they would do all they could to better the world they lived in. But that all changed when Ket left the orphanage for a family that wanted to adopt him. That was the last Remy had heard of Ketsura Nagiyami, until now.

Remy forced himself to not display his emotions on his now cold and expressionless face. But a bounty hunter was taught to always look beyond the face.

"You have all the weapons you need to complete this mission," stated Lilian. "You will complete it. Failure is not tolerated." Remy's face was unchanging and Lilian smiled slightly, knowing she had taught him well.

"Consider him nonexistent," Remy replied. He put his traditional bounty hunter cloak on and clasped his robotic right arm with Lilian's. Immediately, a portal appeared and Remy jumped through to land on a sky-scraping rooftop. From his location, he could observe the entire town and various outskirts without fear of being noticed. After noting where he would travel next, he prepared to jump.

Suddenly, a sharp, concentrated beam of energy shot past him parting small pieces of his new cloak. Remy whirled around pointing his Neo-Arm at where he believed the shot had come from. There was no one to be seen. He glanced quickly at his cloak to make sure that the pieces were slightly parted. They were ripped and a minute bloodstain could be seen on his upper undergarment.