FFOG Chapter 1

Allies Introduced: Jeice Apalocks, Biggs Bellows, Weston Gage, Reno Lupus, Asura Crismon, Psycho, Ian Zarrier, Siddhearth Seamus, Cid Seamus

Enemies Introduced: Dove Davies, Zel Robbins

Summary: The Grundon Society of Polite Inquiry sneaks into the Voltaire settlements on the New Continent in order to investigate rumors that the Empire is responsible for the recent Reaper plague. Jeice, Biggs, and Wedge are detained, and a daring escape is followed up by a search through the Reaper-infested Telo'Nak. The group manages to escape the continent, but with a price: Jeice is tagged by the Reapers.

Fate and Circumstance

Chapters in Final Fantasy OG

0 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10

Masamune

Three shadows suddenly pass on the stone wall. Whispering is heard, a shout is suddenly heard, "Prisoners escaping!"

The focus goes on to three men, whose names happen to be Jeice, Biggs and Wedge. The three look at each other anxiously.

"This is the tricky part," Jeice mumbled as he looked at the approaching soldiers. "We gotta fight hand to hand if we're caught!"

Biggs looked at the approaching soldiers. "No worries, you two hold them off and I'll steal weapons from them!"

"Ok, let's go!" Wedge shouted, as the three ran into battle.

"Got one!" Biggs yelled as he jumped away from the enraged soldier. He tossed the spear over to Jeice, who swiftly caught it out of the air and prepared to battle again. Wedge was used to fighting with his bare hands and Biggs had always had a fondness for throwing knives. The three were able to make short work out of the soldiers.

"Ok, so we got three outfits..." Jeice said as he looked at them, "Hope you can fit in one, Wedge."

Wedge cast him an angry glance and began putting the suit on. It fit near perfectly, with just a small part of his leg showing. "Fits like a glove!"

"A glove that's been washed to many times..." Biggs grinned, "It'll have to do though, we have to get to Raentillo, we'll be safe there until we can make our next move."

"Ok, this way," Jeice motioned, pointing the group down a back alleyway.

Lupus

Meanwhile, a 12 year old boy with short black hair stood by the gate to the mayor's house, tapping his foot waiting. His name's Reno.

"God, this takes forever!" he groaned. Suddenly the gate hinged forward and Reno stepped in. Two guards were waiting.

"Follow me," one said, opening another door in front, then leading Reno up to the mayor's room.

"Yes?"

"I'd like to tell you that you are in danger, Mr. Mayor."

"Danger? Boulderdash! My guards are with me 100% of the time and I can assure you that..."

"Please, listen. Could you tell your guards to back off?" Reno asked, as in an order.

The Mayor thought for awhile. Then he sent out the guards.

"Listen. An empire of destruction has taken over a city near here. They have used it as a prison camp, and they're plotting to kill you, taking over this city. I think..." he stopped for a second. "I think that some of your guards may be working with the empire."

The Mayor snorted again. Suddenly a guard burst into the room and shouted: "We're under attack!"

He stopped talking as a sword blade stabbed him through the chest. He crumbled to the floor. From the shadows of the door came the other guard that had escorted Reno, followed by a few other guards.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Mayor, but your time is up."

Masamune

"Tr-traitors!" The mayor shouted, "You're in league with them!"

"Me!?" Reno exclaimed, "I came here to warn you!"

The two turncoat guards stepped to the side, as a tall man walked in. The top of his head was bald, his face covered with a thick beard. Scars outlined the majority of his face, with two cruel eyes under his bushy eyebrows. At his side a large sword sat in it's sheath, with one hand ready to pull it out.

"Well, well... this was far to easy!" The man said, "I would of expected a little challenge."

"You... you'll never get away with this!" The mayor spat out, as he was detained by two guards.

"Oh, I'm sure I will..." The man answered with a harty chuckle, he then looked down at Reno and grinned. "Look what else I found... our little spy."

Reno struggled to get lose, but was picked up easily by the much larger man who exhaled some hot disgusting breath into the boy's face.

"Guards, have him taken to the slave mines... he'll learn to keep his lips tight there..." The man tossed Reno over at the guards then started roaring with laughter.

***

"Aww jeez, we're trapped!" Biggs exclaimed, and indeed they were. For on each side, elite guards stood poised for battle. They were far outnumbered, they would be annihilated against these odds.

"Up here!" Jeice yelled, motioning to a ladder that went to the top of the buildings. The other two quickly followed, as the other soldiers began to pursue them. After they all got on, Wedge gave a mighty kick to the ladder causing the soldiers to collapse on the ones still in the alleyway.

The three started to run, jumping over the building sides. As they went on voices from below could be heard.

"The prisoners have made it into the residential area!"

They continued running regardless, hundreds of arrows began to rain down on the threesome. Striking Biggs in his right shoulder, he faltered but kept going. They had to get out, this was their last chance...

Ditto

They made haste across the tops of the prison structure, quickly putting some distance between them and their ground-bound pursuers. They stopped at the edge of a roof and looked across the large prison residential area. Square, drab, yellow cubes of buildings stretched over the barren and grassless valley, toward the giant moss-covered wall made of grey stone that formed the main wall around the prison. They stood at the top of the tower on the left side of the giant iron mesh fence that separated the main holding compound from the staff residential area.

Jeice glanced around. "Let's climb down here and get them to open the wire fence to let us through," he said.

Wedge looked up at him. "What about Biggs?! His arm..."

"I... I think I can make it... Let's just climb down..." Biggs muttered.

Jeice, Wedge, and an unsteady Biggs reach over and grab onto the gigantic hinge on their side of the gate. From there, they manage to get down to the gate itself and begin to climb down.

"Won't the guards down there think it's suspicious for us to be climbing down the fence like this?" Wedge complained.

"This fence is pretty wide and the guards are only on either side of it. Climb down the center of it and they won't see us." Biggs groaned.

They struggled across to the center of the fence and began the climb down the 30 ft to the ground. Once they were low enough, Jeice jumped down first.

"Jump down, Wedge!" Jeice commanded.

"Coming!" he replied.

He jumped down and nearly lost his balance. He straightened up and glanced over his shoulder at Biggs. "Just a little further, Biggs! Can you make it?"

"S-sure I... Uhhgh..."

Suddenly, they noticed how precariously he swayed from the fence...

"Biggs! Hold on! Just come down gently..." Wedge yelled, running towards him.

Biggs didn't reply. However, the climb down had taken it's toll on the wounded man. Jeice and Wedge watched in horror as he lost consciousness and slipped from the fence. His limp body fell to the ground. Wedge's face turned ghost white and he ran to his fallen friend...

"BIGGS! Get up man! Get up...!"

Jeice ran to the far side of the fence and hailed the guard. "Hey! We've got a wounded man here! Open the gate and we'll carry him to the infirmary!"

"What's happened back there? What's the-" the guard mumbled, but Jeice interrupted him.

"Three..." Jeice suddenly thought that if he said three, the guard might become suspicious of them. "Uh... no, four prisoners have broken out back there! We think they're headed for the far wall!" Jeice turned and pointed behind him. "They're armed to the teeth! He wounded one of our guys! Now, please! Open the gate!"

Too alarmed to notice how poorly the uniform fits Jeice, the guard quickly nodded and ran inside the guard hut to have the giant fence opened. Jeice ran back to where Wedge was trying to revive the fallen Biggs. He heard the voice of the guard over the bullhorn alerting the rest of the compound of the escapees, unaware that he just spoke to them. Jeice felt relieved as he hears the guard shouting the false information about the group. Wedge, however, hearing the word escapees clearly began to panic. Joining him, Jeice explained.

"They think we're soldiers! Now, you grab his arms, I'll grab his legs, and we'll carry him through the compound!"

Wedge nodded and complied. The fence swung open and they dashed through to the residential area. A mass of guards bolted forth from the little settlement and washed past the trio. Jeice whispered under his breath to Wedge.

"Good. With all these other guards, it'll be easier to get lost.

Now, we've gotta find Siddhearth. He's waiting for us in Building A."

"What about Biggs?! He needs emergency care!" Wedge argued.

"I... don't know. We have to find Siddhearth. This is the one chance he could give us to make our escape. He won't be able to arrange this again. We have to find him!"

"But... where is Building A?"

They looked towards the expansive encampment of yellow bunks and offices.

"Whoever designed this place wasn't thinking. It's so disorganized, it's practically a maze!" Wedge commented.

"Building A is probably near the front, near the wall. We'll just have to try to work our way in that direction."

"Who knows how long that will take?" Wedge looked up at Biggs, who wasn't moving. "He may not last five more minutes..."

Jeice nodded. "Let's hurry! ...and not raise any more eyebrows than we have to!"

Vorpal

"I suggest you go," Wedge said. "Biggs can't be alone, I'll try to find some medical equipment and get out. We'll meet later at the city of Telo'nak. You find Siddhearth, and meet up with us, please be quick about it."

Jeice nodded. "Yes, we mustn't lose Biggs, even if Siddhearth will have my head for this. He wants all of us there."

They stood and thought some more. They saw some soldiers run by. One dropped a walkie talkie. Jeice picked it up and started to listen.

"Security Lock B... destroyed... Ian out... all to Building A immediately... sword..."

"All these soldiers are heading toward Building A," Jeice said quickly.

"Maybe we can follow them."

Masamune

Jeice waved a hand at Wedge, signaling that he was going off alone. The large man simply nodded, picked up his hurt companion and started off to the medical supply.

Got to be careful... Jeice thought. Can't let them see my face...

Jeice tucked his helmet down and joined in a group of soldiers running towards Building A. His group suddenly stopped with the others, they were all crowded around a platform.

Suddenly a figure walked up on the platform, dressed in similar soldier uniform. Only it was refashioned for the person, as the person was a woman. Her face could not be seen through the helmet, but her hair could be seen coming out of it. Her armor was heavy and she kept a battle-axe ready in her arm.

Apparently she was the one in charge of this area, Jeice had heard of her but couldn't quite remember her name.

"The prisoners are estimated to have already left the area, you are all to head out and search for them!" She ordered, her voice demanding respect. "Word has already been sent to the North and East gate to not let suspicious characters out."

Jeice, as well as the rest of the soldiers, saluted and started leaving through the gate. He glanced back at the city and wished Biggs and Wedge a safe journey.

***

Telo'nak had been overrun, despite the warnings of the young boy, Reno. He, as well as several of the uncooperative village children were being transported to the mines. Of course Reno was no ordinary boy, he had not became a spy merely by circumstances. There was much more to him than would meet the eye.

Inside the campsite, Reno and the other children were inside a tent bound by ropes. On the outside a guard stood watch, or would have been if not for the fact he fell asleep.

"Psst, hey you," Reno whispered, looking towards the kid nearest the door. "What's the guard doing?"

The kid panicked then leaned over to see. "Snoring!" he replied with excitement.

"Great!" Reno replied, he began his work. Producing a small pocket knife from his shirt sleeve, he used his hand to pop out the blade end. He then set to cutting the rope and freeing himself from the area. They soon snapped, and he set to work on the ones on his foot. One of the kids had taken notice by now.

"Hey, what about us?" The kid asked, scared at being separated from his parents.

Lupus

Reno finally freed himself completely and stood up. He stepped over to the boy next to him, cutting the rope around his hands. Just as he was about to free him completely, the guard woke up and glanced into the tent. Reno jumped away from out of view as the guard turned, satisfied.

"That was close," Reno said, pulling a peg from the tent, which made the side of the tent fall on the guard's head.

Quickly and silently, Reno pulled over the guard into the room and, pulling out the cord on the tent, tied him up. He pulled off his jacket and searched in one pocket.

"Lucky they hadn't searched me before I came here," Reno thought, pulling out his handkerchief. He used it as gag on the guard. Then he hid the guard behind a shelf in the tent, then putting his red headband back on, he silently creeped out and along the wall of the camp.

As he went he heard voices shouting behind him, "Help us too! We wanna go home!"

Then he heard another guard going in, not seeing the tied up guard. "Shut up! Brats!"

The crying continued, and the swearing from the guard. Then two screams, and everything went quiet.

Reno flinched. Closing his eyes he paused and thought of what he has just done. Looking back once more, he noticed that the guard hadn't come out, and that there were no shadows against the tent wall in the shape of the younger children.

Reno felt his stomach churn. Swallowing heavily, he turned around. And he found himself looking directly at the bald man, the obvious leader of the empire.

"Well well, what HAVE we got here, then?"

Reno gulped a second time. He knew this time he was done for... unless...

Behind the man was a group of yellow Chocobos tied to the metal fence. Thinking fast, Reno dodged to the left, quickly sliding past the bald man and rolling towards the Chocobos. He got up from the ground, slashed the ropes with his knife and jumped on to one.

"Sayonara!" he yelled, forgetting all about the kids in the tent. He hit the Chocobo on the side of the body with his foot and it set off towards Telo'nak, determined to stop the criminals before it broke out into a world war.

lzn64

Reno ran the Chocobo at full speed along the well-trodden path back toward the chaotic city, gripping its feathered mane tightly. The surrounding shrubbery streaked by as the frightened chocobo sprinted, making him feel a bit sick. After only a few minutes of traveling at this breakneck pace, the sound of the pursuing guards faded slightly. Just as Reno looked back with a sigh of relief, the exhausted animal he was riding on stumbled across a depression in the road, throwing the boy off its back. It lay gasping in the road, its leg obviously broken.

"Stupid thing!" Reno yelled in frustration. He glanced back behind him, but there were still no guards in sight. Sympathy entered his eyes as they fixed upon the broken animal sprawled out before him, but he knew he would have to leave it there. "Thanks for trying," He said softly to the injured bird, then he took off into the shrubbery.

He heard the chocobo's answer as he fought with the greenery -"Wark!"- but ignored the pain in its voice. He caught the sound of banging armor, and the shouting of voices. They were back on his track, he knew. A fresh wave of panic hit him, spurring him on. He broke out of the bushes suddenly, and faltered to a stop as he entered a clearing. A plain cottage stood in the center, wood stacked along its side and a two-stalled stable which was disappointingly empty nearby. The sound of armored bodies crashing through the forest behind him reached his ears, and he turned back toward the way he had come fearfully.

He debated breaking into the cottage doubtfully, but just as he had reached his decision, the door opened and a woman walked out, squinting across the clearing. Her eyes locked on Reno, confusion passed through her eyes, and was then replaced by fear as the guards finally broke through and charged Reno.

"Look out!" She cried frantically. Reno spun around, ducked the first swing meant to decapitate him cleanly, and threw his entire body weight into the bulky frame of the guard that had attacked him. The force of the blow sent the man reeling into one of his comrades, felling two of them temporarily. A third man emerged, saw his fellows on the floor, swore, and charged.

Reno gasped and backed away, preparing to dodge the onslaught, but the man dropped halfway to his target, an arrow embedded in his throat. Reno blinked, but before he could say a word he was being hauled back into the woods.

"Quiet, you!" A female voice hissed at him. Reno stopped his struggling for a moment, surprised.

"Keep your mouth quiet and your body still." She whispered, hauling him into a thicket and dropping him pitilessly on the floor. She peered over the top, bow aimed with expert skill in the direction they had come from.

Minutes passed in a tense silence, allowing Reno precious time to recollect himself. A barrage of swearing and accusing reached them, obviously the guards had lost them. Brief snatches of the guard's talk reached their hiding spot.

"They... over there... Samneric, dead... yeah, I know it..."

"Back across... Broke for the river... little scut, I'll kill him..."

The voices faded slowly away as the men dispersed, headed for the river, apparently. Reno breathed a sigh of relief, then stood and faced the strange woman that had effectually saved his skin.

"Who're you?" She asked pointedly, raising her eyebrows at him.

"Now, just wait a-"

"No. Tell me who you are. I know those men. I want to know why they are after a boy like you." Her voice held no room for argument. She had put her bow away, it hung on her side, concealed by the heavy cloak she wore.

Reno knew there was no escaping, and haltingly told his story. The conspiracy, the betrayal, and finally his own capture and escape fell from his mouth in a flood. It felt good to tell somebody, but a vague uneasiness stole through him as his story was told. After he had finished, the woman stared at him, long and hard, and then, surprisingly, smiled.

"You're a very brave boy," She approved. She held her hand out to him. "I'm Asura. Pleased to meet you, Reno."

"Same to you..." He replied, a bit confused.

"We must get back to Telo'nak immediately." Asura said this while looking back toward the city, where smoke could be seen rising in think trails. "Are you coming, then?" She fixed her gaze on Reno, awaiting an answer.

"I have to go back. I have to." Reno answered, shrugging helplessly.

"Then, let's stop dawdling here and go."

Asura started toward the besieged city, Reno beside her, and her bow and quiver strapped to her tightly. Her mouth was a thin line, her brow creased with worry. Reno glanced at her, still a bit confused as to how they had gotten acquainted. They broke out onto the path once again, then, as a loud explosion-type noise rang out over the land, they broke into a run, sprinting the last few miles toward Telo'nak, each beset by their own worries.

Psycho

Meanwhile in the town of Desdemona, in a bar, sat a man at a table. Across his sides were two blades strapped onto his belt, beside him sat his tiger, Silver Strike. The tiger purred and rested its head on its front legs.

The man turned to his companion. His only real friend. He was a lonely mercenary roaming the world for jobs. His favorite places of all were bars, inns and pubs, according to him "they were good for business". This man's name was Psycho.

"Hmm... there is some evil in the wind! Can you sense it too Silver Strike??"

The tiger nodded in response.

"I knew you did," Psycho said, scratching Silver's neck.

Suddenly the door slammed open. An Imperial Soldier marched in, glancing around. He saw Psycho in the booth against the wall and walked over, sitting down.

"Hi there! Are you the mercenary Psycho?" the soldier said happily.

"Who wants to know?" Psycho replied, not looking up at the soldier before him.

"I do! I'll pay a hefty price if you help me track down an escapee."

"How much?"

"How does 50,000 Gil strike you?"

"I'll think about it..." Psycho mumbled.

Masamune

Jeice looked on in disbelief, Telo'Nak was no more than charred remnants of it's former beauty. Many soldiers were searching for any survivors, only they weren't the same from the prison camp he had came from. No, for they were in black uniforms, a black helmet and a scarlet red cape that flowed from their shoulders. In each of their hands they held crimson scythes and looked to be the very spawn of Hades.

Wearing his uniform would be no help to him. So he got dressed in his former red overcoat, pointed hat with a feather sticking out and normal black pants so compliment it. He fastened his well kept spear over his back, discarded the soldier uniform and made his way into the village. None of the dark soldiers took notice of him, they continued to turn over rubble and destroy anything living that originated from the town.

These guards seemed to be occupied with their mission, to question them was unwise. He had to find out who was in charge. As he continued to the Mayor's house, his mind began to wonder to his allies, Biggs and Wedge and how they were doing back at the Imperial City.

***

"Ugh..."

"Whew... looks like you're doing better!"

"Wedge... what IS this stuff?"

"It's a elixir, I managed to get one... the medical room was full of 'em!" Wedge answered.

"Where's Jeice?" Biggs asked as he painfully got up, his back still sore from the fall.

"He went on to Telo'nak, he'll find Siddhearth there and we'll meet up again here." Wedge answered.

"We have to wait here?" Biggs asked as he looked out the alleyway as a few more soldiers passed by, "You know Jeice as well as I do... you know he can't stick to doing one thing. He'll get preoccupied."

Wedge rubbed his chin and looked over, "What are you proposing?"

"We need to get to Raentillo anyway, Jeice went to Telo'nak because of me. We'll go ahead and find out about the rumoured Black Reapers that appeared lately." Biggs answered as he leaned on the building, "After all, we were supposed to find out about that a while ago. It was bad enough we were imprisoned, Ol' boss Cid won't be to happy that we didn't even get our work done after all this time."

The larger man considered it then nodded, "That will do, we shall go to Raentillo then meet up with Jeice in Telo'nak. But you are still weary from your injuries, as soon as we leave this city, I will carry you."

"Aww, come on! I'm fine!" Biggs moaned as he followed Wedge out of the alleyway.

Lupus

"OK, I've made up my mind. I'll do it. Just tell me who is this escapee?" Psycho asked, ordering the other around.

The soldier grinned. "Oh, just a guy named Jeice and his gang."

Psycho glanced at him. "Hold on! You said one escapee!"

"One, three, all makes no difference. So are you in or out?" The soldier turned to face him.

"What if I refuse?"

"Consider yourself dead."

"Whatever. But I'm not giving in because of your death threats. I need the money, and I haven't had a job in weeks." Psycho took the glass in front of him and sculled the liquid in it. He wiped his mouth with his long sleeve and stood up.

"Good."

Psycho

"Fine, but I need something. From each one of them. So Silver here can get their scent."

The soldier paused. "Um... I don't have anything like that! But I could..." One of Psycho's blades lashed up directly at the soldier's neck.

"Get the items now or I'll make you wish you were dead!"

"How? I am an elite soldier from the Empire! You couldn't defeat..."

"With a snap of my fingers Silver Strike will have you for supper... literally!"

"I understand!" the soldier squeaked. "I will have the items for you soon!"

Psycho put his hands up with his fingers ready to snap. "You better. Silver Strike is hungry!"

The tiger growled as the soldier flashed out of the bar.

Lupus

Back in the forest, Reno and Asura were walking the last fifty meters to Telo'nak.

"So you said, you knew those guys back there. How?" Reno broke the silence.

Asura didn't say anything. When Reno prompted her, she finally spoke. "I... don't worry. Look, there's Telo'nak!"

She was right. Ahead, Telo'nak lay at the bottom of a surrounding wall of hills and forests. As they trudged down the hill to the destroyed gate and the dead bodies laying around, they noticed a flash of black run past between two utterly destroyed buildings.

"Huh?"

"Oh no!" Reno moaned. "Not them again!"

Asura looked at him. "You know what those things are?"

Reno nodded. "Black Reapers. Up to their old tricks again."

Reno and Asura headed through the destroyed gate into the streets. Asura moved slowly, unaware that the Black Reapers were only interested in injured people, not well and moving like her. They moved on, Reno reassuring her it was alright. They turned into the main street, and before them they saw a man who was hiding behind a bench jump out and run away from them in a obvious limp down the street, thinking they were Reapers. From the wall glided a Reaper, catching up to the man in no time at all, and slashing him so he collapsed to the ground, dead. Asura screamed and covered her eyes. Reno was calm. He watched it, breathing deeply. He knew these guys. But yet he knew nothing about them. Strange, he knew, but it was true. They appeared and started causing chaos earlier on that year. Reno had faced them several time since then in his journey, but nothing drastic enough to scare him out of his body. But this was it. They were killing all the innocent victims in Telo'Nak. For no apparent reason at all.

Suddenly Reno broke out of his thoughts. A tall man turned around the corner, and immediately all the Reapers backed off around the corner. He stared down into Reno's eyes with a piercing look. Then behind the large man came another figure, smaller this time. He looked as if he wasn't as powerful as the tall man, and he had a glint in his eye that said so. He looked behind him as the Black Reapers rounded the corner and chased him. He was faster than the man before, but not as fast as Reno, and he made it to the large man on time. Just as he reached the man, he was able to say one word...

"Siddhearth!"

...Before a Reaper stabbed him in the back with a scythe. Jeice collapsed, and Siddhearth disappeared.

Reno leaned over Jeice's limp body.

"Hey, you alright?" he asked, turning him over so he was on his back. "Hey! Wake up!"

Jeice opened his eyes slowly. "Siddhearth... he's the only one who can help us..."

"Against what?" Asura asked, kneeling down beside Reno.

"Zande. And his army..."

Reno knew who Zande was. He was the one who had taken over Telo'Nak. But what he didn't know is that at that moment, Zande was already attacking Mage Village.

"Zande? That idiot!" Reno yelled.

Asura flinched. She knew who Zande was too. "I... er..."

Reno looked up at her. "What?"

"Nevermind..."

***

The Imperial Soldier scurried back to the bar, smacking down the door. Psycho was still where he was ten minutes ago, at the bench drinking. Somehow he never seemed to get drunk.

"Ack! I've got them!" he yelled, running up to Psycho. "I've got them in under ten minutes!"

"Good," Psycho said. "That's a start. Here, give them to me."

The Soldier placed a sword, a uniform and a bandana on the table before Psycho. "OK, Silver, do your stuff."

The tiger sniffed the items, then it ran over to the Soldier and tackled him to the ground. Psycho got up and stared into his eyes.

"Your tiger's weird. What's it doing?"

"It's job."

Quickly PK drew his sword and slashed it at the body below. A final scream echoed from the soldier's mouth and PK walked away. "Filthy liar."

Masamune

Psycho rubbed his chin as he looked at the soldier, his misgivings to working with imperials had turned out correct. Apparently they were after some escapees, it wasn't his concern. But he couldn't stand being in this bar, the drink wasn't that good anyways. He was never one to let curiosity get the best of him, but this was not some silly thought. No, this was business. He would be more likely to recieve a job by travelling in any case. He patted the tiger's head and motioned for it to wait for him outside. As it left he looked down at the soldiers body and grabbed any useful belongings and followed it outside.

Lupus

Psycho stood on the cliff edge, looking down on the Firey Pit, famous for it's attractions to tourists. The Firey Pit was a large hole in the ground, lined with fire. No one was sure how it got there, and it has been there since anyone can remember. Legends say that a goddess meteor shrouded with fire hit the earth several million years ago and made a hole the size of two ks across and half a k down. The Goddess's name was Feera, one of the three elemental goddesses, Goddess of Fire and Earth. No one had ever been down there, as monsters and evil lurked around.

Psycho scratched Silver Strike behind the ears, "Come Silver. We have a job to do."

Psycho sat down on the cliff rim and pushed his foot out in front of him. He slowly slid down the side of the earth to the bottom where the fiery wall around the pit lay. Taking his sword from his back, he closed his eyes and pointed it at the fire. When he opened them again, the fire had ceased back leaving a door into the pit for Psycho. He went in, the fire closing behind him. Psycho was halfway down the side when Silver's ears pricked up.

"What is it?" Psycho asked, then he heard it too. Moving the grip on the sword so it was tight, he span around, slicing the head off a beast that had ambushed him. BANG. A ball of light ricocheted off his blade. Psycho swung around to face the opponent. There stood a man dressed completely in blue with very long arms. He had blades across the top of them, like bayonettes, only like sword blades.

"Heh!" the man laughed, suddenly leaping into the air and diving at Psycho. Psycho dodged and smacked the man into the dirt.

"Who are you?" Psycho asked, sheathing his sword.

"My name is Telo'Nak."

"Telo'Nak... like the city?"

Telo'Nak gulped. Quickly he rolled over and jumped to his feet. But he was too late. Psycho's blade was pointing at his throat.

"Yes... as in the city."

Psycho jumped. How could someone be called Telo'Nak when that was a city...?

"I see."

Psycho

Psycho took out his other sword just in case he needed it. "Now talk or die! Why did you and the beast attack me?"

Telo'Nak, looked down at the dirt. "Because no one may pass through here without the permission of the Goddess!"

"OK then. I'll let you live this time, but next time you'll end up like your buddy over there!"

"I must tell you something in return for your kindness. If you survive this crater you will get a special treasure. But no one has ever survived it!"

"Yeah, well I'm not no one!" Psycho bolted out with his foot and kicked Telo'Nak out of the way. "We'll soon have food boy! I just know that another monster will try to take us out, but not even our master Shadow ca stop us if it's a life or death situation!"

The tiger growled again, impatient for it's food.

Ditto

Psycho, the first human ever to reach the depths of this infernal place, which somehow resembled descriptions he had heard from religious fanatics when he was but a boy, proceeded to march in, with his White Tiger close behind him...

***

The boy ran toward the fallen figure wearing the red inverness and large red plumed hat. Asura trembled at the macabre sight of the draped figure, so savagely struck down. Her instinct was to flee from this place of horror and find a place where she could live out the rest of her days trying to block her memory of it. She was nearly insane with the notion that she was regarded as a mere watcher, beyond notice, to this wholesale slaughter. She couldn't run. She was surrounded by it. She covered her eyes and ears and fell to her knees. But then, she felt a small hand on her arm. It pried her hand from her face. It was Reno, but his face was somehow gentle. He spoke.

"He's not dead."

She disregarded this and tried again to just evaporate into thin air, but the boy persisted.

"Ummm, I'm trying to tell you! He's not dead... yet. He can be healed."

She looked up.

"Look. No blood. He's been 'tagged' by the Black Reapers. I... I think he must not have been here earlier."

She struggled to understand what he was saying. The boy cursed his lack of eloquence. For all his ability, his mind was still young, and he lacked, to a degree, the sense of self-awareness that leads one to understand that others don't know what you're thinking. This meant that he had trouble speaking to others. He tried another angle...

"He's paralyzed. We can undo it, but first we gotta carry him outta-"

She blinked. To Reno's surprise, she stood up and walked over to the man, momentarily numbed to the carnage around her. She lay one hand on him and chanted to herself. A white light flew from her hand toward him. She jumped back, as, indeed, he did respond to her Deparalyze spell. The figure hoisted himself up on his hands, but quickly fell down again, woozy. He tried again, and looked up into the face of his savior.

"Wh-what happened?"

Reno was amazed. Words left him entirely.

"He... he told me you were only paralyzed. I... my spell worked." Asura's gaze didn't leave Jeice's face.

Jeice looked confused, not registering that she meant Reno. "What...?"

Asura indicated Reno who came forward. He couldn't think of anything appropriate, so instead he asked a direct question.

"You just arrived here, didn't you?"

"I... yeah. How... how did you know?" Jeice questioned.

"Why?" Reno demanded, ignoring Jeice's question.

"I... I had to... oh, yes! I came here to meet someone! But, who are these...? Are they... the Reapers?"

Reno turned to Asura.

"When the spell is cast, if you're not there, uh... uh, that is..." Reno stopped to put his words in order. He took a deep breath. "First, a curse is placed over an area, like a village, like this one-" "By who?" Asura interrupted.

Reno was frustrated. "I'll get to that! One thing at a time! Anyway, a curse is placed on a village. Later, as the sun goes down, these soldiers, known as Black Reapers, they... appear. They are drawn, rather. They raid the area, and... well, 'harvest' everyone who was there when the curse was cast. Later, at midnight, the Red Reapers come and..." Reno shuddered. "take them."

Asura shook her head. "What? 'Harvest?' Take? I don't understand."

Reno sighed heavily. "The Black Reapers come first. They... well they 'reap' everyone who fell under the curse. Of course, they can also 'paralyze' anyone who wasn't there, but they generally don't, unless provoked. In any case, later, the Red Reapers come and... lead away the souls."

"Red reapers?"

"Yes. The Black Reapers are supernatural soldiers. If you have been cursed, you can't fight back. If you haven't, you still have a chance. Once they 'harvest' those who are doomed, the Red ones come to... collect."

"Who are the... Red ones?" Jeice said, finally speaking.

"Even worse. Demons. Frightful wraiths who flitter through the air..." he shuddered once again. "Horrible ghouls. They are servants of evil, who serve masters from our world. They... collect." "So, that's why they couldn't actually harm us? Because we just got here?" Asura questioned. Reno nodded. "That's right."

"That must be why they didn't come after that guy you were chasing. Er... What was the name?"

Jeice's eyes grew concerned and he looked away. He wraped himself in his cloak.

"Yeah, you were chasing someone. Who...?" Reno ordered.

"Siddhearth... He was right... I am inept," Jeice mumbled. He shed a tear. "It would have been better had you left me to be collected by those ghost things tonight."

"What?" Asura cried.

"He... he said I was incompetent." He sniffed. "He was right..."

Asura was outraged. "How could he leave you to die?"

"Now, now, it looked to me like he was gone to quick to see his friend get hit..." Reno said, trying to cheer them both up.

"Why were you two meeting here, at this place, at just this time? It can't have been coincidence..." Asura continued, totally ignoring him.

"I... er, we... were supposed to save the village from... the Reapers, but... I couldn't even carry out my instructions. I'm useless..."

Asura looked at him, and grabbed his arm firmly, surprising him to look up at her. He looked into his eyes hard. He was amazed...

"Listen. No one who is willing to face this horror to save lives... is worthless. Do you understand?" Asura commanded into him.

"I... I..."

"Come on, let's go meet with Siddhearth!" Asura said. "I want to tell him something!"

They marched off down the streets, now beginning to quiet. The air was still, and the cold wind blew as the grisly red scarecrow-like warriors marching around looking for more victims. They did not speak to the trio, who walked around, looking for Siddhearth. However, at the moment, they heard a cry for help from under a nearby pile of rubble...

Lupus

"Fifteen minutes to midnight," Psycho said to Silver. He continued into the depths of the pit. As he walked, he saw three flying red things leap from the center. He paused and watched as they jumped up, leaping a kilometer in the air, and landing on the rim of the pit. Then they bounced off in the direction of Telo'Nak, followed by five others. Silver started to growl.

"What?" Psycho asked Silver Strike, crouching down beside him.

The tiger growled again and turned to the hole in the center of the pit where the red demons had appeared from. One final one leaped out, but instead of landing on the rim far above, he landed on the ground the opposite side of the hole to Psycho. It turned around and glanced at him, evil in it's eyes. It opened its mouth, strange noises coming from it. Then it aimed an arm at Silver Strike and a blade shot out, slashing Silver right down the center. Blood poured everywhere.

Psycho winced. The blood was all over his knees and hands. Desperately he took off his belt and took out a tiny bottle. He poured it on Silver, but the tiger didn't budge.

Psycho jumped to his feet, charging at the demon. He pulled out his sword from his sheath and lunged it into the demon... or he would have if the demon had stayed there. The demon had leaped high above and landed the other side of Psycho.

"Gasahh!" the demon hissed, licking it's lips with his snake like tongue. "Blaah shoopi Telo'Nak!"

Telo'Nak? So the demon knew about it too. He was either talking about the city, or the monster named Telo'Nak.

"Hi Gasss!" the demon hissed impatiently. Then it jumped off and bounced towards Telo'Nak, the city.

Psycho

"Darn it!" Psycho cursed. "Come on Silver!"

Psycho reached to his belt and pulled out a larger bottle. "I'd gladly use my X-Potion I found on that guard in Desdemona on you!" Psycho poured a little onto Silver and his wound suddenly healed. The tiger moved one leg.

"C'mon, don't die! We're a team!"

Suddenly a blinding light appeared and Psycho blocked his eyes. The light slowly faded and in the place of Silver was an egg. "Of course! I forgot he could heal himself! I guess I better keep this thing warm!"

Psycho took the egg and put it in his backpack, in the special pouch he had made for incubation if something like this should happen to Silver. "Well I guess I'm on my own until he hatches!" Psycho continued on to the center of the crater.

Vorpal

Jeice looked toward the west. The cold night air sent shivers up his spine. He sat down and looked to the sky. Asura sat down next to him.

"What are you doing up?" Jeice asked.

"Couldn't sleep."

"Well, you should, it's been quite a long night already."

"Are you worried about something?"

"I've got to find Builing A, that's the one place I know either Siddhearth will be or will leave something there to direct me to another place."

"So it's a cat and mouse thing."

"Yeah, but the cats playing with his food before he eats it."

Asura was quite annoyed by Jeice's attitude, but there was nothing she could do about it. She broke the silence.

"So where is Building A?"

"I don't know, but I did find a communication devise and I found the general direction of Building A. The soldiers were running to it so it couldn't be more than a day's walk away from here. We'll have to walk back into the Imperial City though. But there was something..." Jeice trailed off

"What?"

"Nothing, try to get some sleep."

Jeice got up and walked off.

***

Later that day, Jeice, Asura and Reno arrived at the spot they believed was Building A. The Imperial City was surprisingly clear and entering it was easy as, and the stranger thing was that Building A was completely unguarded.

Before Reno opened the door Jeice spoke. "Wait!"

"What?" Reno asked.

"Uh, well, when the soldier came here, I heard something about an Ian also. Maybe some big weapon." "So what are you getting at?"

"Uh, nothing, just stay on your guard."

The three entered and followed down several hallways. It was very peculiar because ther were no guards, no nothing, and it was of the empire's.

They entered a room and they saw, to their horror, several dead bodies on the ground. Not one square inch wasn't covered in blood. And then they noticed one man standing there. With a bloody sword and ripped clothing.

The man looked with almost childlike face. He said, "I am Ian." He then started to fall face forward, but Asura caught him before he fell.

Reno and Jeice observed the room. The bodies that covered the floor were soldiers of the empire, maybe fifteen of them. All killed by "Ian."

Masamune

Jeice grimaced as he looked over the bodies killed by 'Ian'. The strange man didn't seem to even notice the dead bodies, oh his own wounds for that matter. He just stood over the carcass of a young soldier with a sort of 'glow' that seemed to reflect a sort of untainted innocence inside. Yet, the blood was on his hands and it was clear he had killed these soldiers.

He then spoke, "Who are you?"

Jeice held back his contempt for the man and answered, "Jeice, this i-"

"Quiet!" Reno barked out, glaring at Ian intently, "This guy here is some sort of psycho. And you want to introduce yourself!?"

Jeice shrugged and looked down at the bodies, "These are imperials... he seems to be on our side... even if his methods..."

"... Are outright wrong?" Asura cut in, "He murdered them... and look at him smiling! He couldn't possibly be sane!"

"I am sane" Ian replied, speaking once more, "It was not my intention to kill them, I--"

"Was told to and you know not to chatter with enemies!" A voice called out, cutting off Ian. Jeice recognized the voice, it was the woman who had been ordering the soldiers before. "It seems the Mind Block was unnafective."

She stepped into the light, followed by another man. He was dressed in a long black overcoat, had spectacles peering over his nose and short red hair. On his face was the hints of a neglected beard and mustache. He spoke in a clear, serious voice, "Yes... a pity. It seems it was not strong enough for such a willful specimen..."

The woman looked over at Jeice and grinned, "Well, well. The escaped Prisoner has returned... The red suit and all. Very unwise to walk right in on us. Ian, be a good boy and take care of these three."

The red wizard growled and pulled out his spear. He was perpared to strike, but Ian merely dropped his sword and sighed.

"I cannot, for what I have done is unnaceptable..." Ian sighed, then looked up at the two, "I will no longer be a tool for destruction!"

Psycho (editing required)

In the crater, Psycho is in an uneasy sleep inside a monster proof force field. Psycho's dream is of memories long since forgotten. --- Siddhearth: So, is the operation complete? Doctor: Yes. But why did you want us to do this to such a small boy? Siddhearth: Because he may be of use to me. I can teach him much more if his mind is young! So I understand everything is done as I have ordered, correct? Doctor: Yes, we gave him the powers of a Gold Mage. Although his powers are not as strong as a Gold Mage who trained to learn their skills... Siddhearth: Good, now I will but him to the test! *Puts a slave crown on the boy* Destroy this building now! Boy: Yes sir! Bolt Beam! *A beam of destructive electric energy shoots out of his hands, destroying a large chunk of the hospital. Siddhearth: Carry on! *Soon the hospital is nothing but ash* --- Psycho woke up in a cloud of cold sweat. "Did that really happen to me? Why can't I remember my past! Why must I be tortured by these dreams every night???"

Lupus

Psycho mentally woke, realizing he was back in the pit. Silver was licking his hand to wake him up.

"Whoo, boy. I'm gettin' up. I can see you hatched. That's good, I was getting kinda lonely."

Psycho looked up at the sky. He saw it was still night, about an hour since he fell asleep. One o clock, he thought.

"It's too early, Silver. But I'm glad you woke me up. I had a terrible dream."

Silver Strike rumbled as if it understood. Or it may have been his stomach, asking for food before the tiger died of hunger.

"Yeah, food. I'll get some."

Psycho took a ham roll out of his backpack, broke it in half and gave part of it to Silver. The tiger started to eat it. Then Psycho noticed something outside. Seven red demons returning to the hole, flying this time, each carrying a dead person in their dragon like wings. They dropped their person into the hole and flew off towards Telo'Nak again.

Psycho (editing required)

Psycho looked around him. "Silver, I'm going back to sleep. If I have a bad dream, be sure to wake me, ok?"

The tiger nodded, and Psycho once again fell asleep.

--- Siddhearth: Good! My little puppet! Now Alkarn is next! Now distroy it! Boy: Yes sir! PSYCHO: WHY MUST I BE TORTURED BY THESE DREAMS EVERY NIGHT? Boy: Fire Beam! *A beam of fire is shot at the Alkarn Castle making a large hole in it. PSYCHO: IS THIS ME? DID I DO THESE TERRIBLE THINGS? Siddhearth: Destroy it! Boy: Ice Beam! *A beam of ice is fired and hits the throne room of the castle, killing the Alkarn King. PSYCHO: HOW COULD SOMEONE BE AS EVIL TO FORCE THIS BOY TO DESTROY THINGS? Siddheath: Finish that castle off with another Bolt Beam! Boy: OK! *He shoots another Bolt Beam out of his hands. It takes off a tower on top of the castle. PSYCHO: NO! THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING! PLEASE WAKE ME FROM THIS DREAM!! Siddhearth: Good job lad! Now finish it off with the best move you have! Boy: Tri Beam! *A beam with the power of Ice, Bolt and Fire is put together in a shot destroying the remains of the once splendid castle.* PSYCHO: PLEASE STOP! WAKE ME UP!! --- Psycho jumped up again as Silver was licking his face. "A bit late, hey?" Psycho said to him. The tiger growled. "Sorry. Good boy. I'm not going to sleep again. Lets get going."

Lupus

Ian roared, practically shaking the whole room. Drawing his sword, he ran at the woman.

"Stop!" she said, holding her hand out. Ian froze, as if scared by her.

"Yes Dove..."

"Dove?" Jeice said. "You mean..."

"No!" said the woman. "My name is Dove Davies. And this..." she pointed to the man behind her, "is Zel!"

Ian flinched. "No! I won't take it! Any of you! I'm sick of all this!"

Ian continued to run at Dove. She held out her hand and a beam struck Ian. Ian collapsed again.

"Naughty, naughty boy!" she mocked, laughing.

Masamune

Jeice was torn, this Ian supposedly was some sort of mad weapon. But the way... the way those two toyed with him... it was madness. He didn't care who Ian was, those two were monsters that deserved to be dealt with. Reno and Asura stood behind him, he was unsure of their emotions. He cared little, he would make those two suffer for their crimes.

"I don't care who the heck you are..." Jeice muttered as he pointed his spear at the two, "But I'm going to make sure you never do anything like this again!"

Dove looked at him and chuckled, "Oh, did you say something?"

The Red wizard ignored the sarcasm and focused. Although he was trained in magic, it was a very hard feat to use. Most people had to be born with such a power to be able to use it, a sort of genetic alteration. How it came to be was unknown, but now and then someone was born with some sort of genetic differential. His was the ability to use magic, a talent only the ancient mages could ever use. Looking into the eyes of Ian, lying on the ground so helpless to them. Some sort of bond was born, he could see something of himself in that poor manipulated weapon made of flesh and blood.

His hands ached as a ball of fire formed in his hand, a side effect of being able to use magic and be a human. That is why he loathed attack magic, but at this point it made no difference. In pure rage he launched the ball of fire at the woman general. Her response was awe, suprise and fear. She was knocked off balance and plummeted on to the hard ground below.

"Well, well..." Zel mumbled as he looked at the young magician, "How interesting... Magic... we come to detain one and find another equally valuable..."

Dove spat out some blood and glared angrily, "How dare you harm me!" She then looked up at Zel, "You want his so bad? You can disect what's left of him... which won't be much."

"Hmm... I was afraid this would happen..." Zel replied, "I suppose I shall have to annihilate you. Such a pity though, you had potential."

"What!?"

Zel made no reply, he pulled out a small little tube. Tossed it on the ground near Dove, a small little insect crawled out. She attempted to kill it, but it suddenly transformed into a black reaper. It glarede at her menacingly and started chanting something unintelligible.

"We got to do something!" Reno shouted.

"No!" Asura replied as she grabbed the boy's shoulder and prevented him from getting away, "They won't hurt us... we are not tagged..."

"No... don't let her die..." Ian muttered as he amazingly got to his feet, "She was manipulated too."

"Ho ho!" Zel chuckled, "You wish to join in? Be my guest, but I'll have you know... they cannot be killed!"

With a quick look over, he pulled out a vial and tossed it down. Causing him to vanish in to a cloud of smoke.

"What do we do?" Asura asked, "Is she our enemy or not?"

Before anyone else could reply, the black reaper seperated into four new ones, a total of five. And they started going to the remaning warriors prepared to kill. They all got ready to fight, unsure of the exact strength of the beings...

Lupus

Psycho and Silver had just eaten another ham roll when Psycho jumped up.

"Let's go. Our mission... we must complete our old mission. My curiosity's too powerful to control. We must check that Demon hole!"

Psycho drew his double swords and the forcefields faded, revealing day. Psycho and Silver made their way to the centre of the pit, to examine it.

***

Four of the five Black Reapers cornered the three in the far corner. The last stayed at the door, carefully watching Dove.

"Asura, we HAVE to do something!" Reno complained again, taking out his Long Blade.

Asura nodded, as she agreed. Jeice glanced around for an exit for quick escape, but the only avaliable one was the door the final Reaper guarded.

Reno dived sideways, landing before Dove. He looked behind him, and ducked just as a large arm was about to hit him. He fell down and flipped his leg around, tripping him up. Then he plunged his sword into the Reaper's chest. Green blood exploded out of his body as it shrunk back into the tiny form, and ran back into the first Reaper, who grew a little and an extra arm. On the arm was three large blades, looking like fingernails.

"Bad idea," Jeice muttered, taking a step back. Suddenly the other three Reapers froze, and they grew as big as the door guarding one.

"God damn!" swore Reno, running back to the others.

Suddenly, Jiece noticed a high window high above the back wall. Before he could react, though, a big rock smashed through the window and in jumped...

"Siddhearth!" they all yelled in chourus, as the large man landed before them and cut a Reaper's head clear of it's neck. There were only three more of them.

Ditto

All eyes turned to the figure standing straight and tall in the light pouring in through the shattered rose window. He was extremely tall and whipcord thin. He brushed his long brown hair onto his shoulders. Standing over the writhing reaper, he spoke firmly.

"Jeice! Let's go! All his friends, follow! Hurry!"

Jeice started to speak for some reason, but his voice choked as he saw the tall, haunting shape of the Reaper begin to rise from the floor. It's wrist bent back and then whirled scythe toward Siddhearth, who barely managed to duck the deadly gesture. He dropped down and rolled over the floor, and grabbed one of the demon's scythes lying on the floor. He hefted it with one hand as if to use it for defense. The ghostly figure floated across the floor toward him and swung. He whirled around, missing being hit by a fraction of an inch. Spinning around, he brought his scythe around and planted it into the figure. It screamed and went down again, but once more began to rise.

Siddhearth screamed an order "Go! Run for your lives! These things will not stay down. The Victoria is outside! Get aboard as quickly as possible! Hurry!"

The group obeyed. Jeice threw open the glass door and shepherded Asura and Reno outside. Siddhearth joined him, but they both stopped to look back at Ian, who was only staggering. The Reaper, now risen, turned and lay eyes on him. Jeice darted in, as Siddhearth shouted.

He didn't heed him. Jeice ran in and grabbed Jeice by the arm, and pulled him practically off his feet toward the door. He stumbled, but Siddhearth darted in and grabbed him by the waist. Together, they carried him outside.

In the open night, Jeice looked up to see the hulking form of the airship Victoria high above. The chop of it's propellers lashed against the wind. Hanging down was a rope ladder. Reno and Asura were already scurrying up. The ship moved forward, as Jeice and Siddhearth, with Ian in tow, attempted to catch up with it. Siddhearth urged Jeice to grab ahold. Behind, the grisly Reaper lurched forth from Building A.

Jeice snatched at the ladder and hurried up. Below, Siddhearth grabbed at the ladder with one hand, and put Ian's hands on the bottom rungs. Seeing he was not prepared to climb it, Siddhearth looked up and shouted. "Tell Cid up there to pull up the ladder!"

Jeice complied, and yelled up to Reno and Asura. They nodded and shouted up, despite the fact that they saw no one. The ship continued to glide ahead, with it's dangling passengers as the Reaper came closer to the two on the bottom rungs. It reared back with it's deadly weapon.

Slowly, however, with a grinding noise, the rope did begin to rise, pulled up by a mechanism. Ian held fast to the rope as his feet got further and further off the ground. High above, as the rope neared the lip of the Airship, Reno and Asura climbed aboard, follwed close by Jeice. Ian and Siddhearth rose high up, as the grim, inhuman face of the Reaper looked up chillingly at his out of reach targets.

Once they were all safely on the deck of the Victoria, the group heaved a collective sigh of relief. Ian, Reno and Asura fell to their knees, as Siddhearth looked around. All he and Jeice saw was the closed door of the cabin. Siddhearth gave Jeice a dry smile and shrugged.

"I guess it is us who must go to him," Siddhearth said.

Followed by Jeice, he walked to the door and into the lavishly decorated parlor, which also housed the mechanisms of the ship, and glanced at the languid form of his brother seated leisurely on an ornate couch. Cid Seamus took a sip from a chalice in his hand, and looked up at the pair, with a half amused look in his eye. He raised his eyebrows as he took in Siddhearth's dry gaze, as though surprised.

"All ashore that's going ashore?" Cid asked. He looked back at their faces, feigning helplessness. "Oh, come, don't look at me so. I told you it was a risk. Sit down, if you have the time." Siddhearth just gave a wry smile, and turned to the door, before turning. "I'm afraid I do not. I must get ready."

He turned to Jeice. "Inform my brother of our goings-on. If you can tolerate his insouciance, that is."

Siddhearth marched out, and Cid laughed.

Masamune

"So, I trust you have succeeded your mission?" Cid inquired, as he set his goblet aside and stood up. "I never got to Raentillo... I was sort of... side tracked," Jeice replied hesitantly.

"So I have heard..." Cid mumbled, "I am quite dissapointed. Going to Building A, the research center. Right where the Reapers are said to come from."

"Heard from who?"

"While you were off hunting for friends, Biggs and Wedge returned with the information we needed. If my dear sibling had not been following you, it is quite likely you would of died, no?"

"How did they-"

"Enough of that!" Cid quickly said, cutting Jeice off. "I have some important duties to attend to. The two would like to speak to you I'm sure. Tell your new friends to make theirselves at home. We have another hour until we will be back at the base."

"Yes sir..." Jeice replied, then leaving the room. He had screwed up a lot, but this really took the cake. The way things were heading, he would spend the rest of his life performing fetch quests for Cid. He could only imagine how disappointed Umbriel would have been...

Outside the room, Biggs was waiting impatiently leaning on the wall next to the door. "So, how did it go?"

"I messed up again..." Jeice replied.

"Heh, you seem to be good at that" Biggs chuckled, "I would of done the same thing though."

"Maybe," Jeice agreed while grinning, "Have you seen the three that came with me?"

"Well let's see... that one guy is being treated, that kid was hungry and went to the dining area."

"And Asura?"

"That beautiful woman... heh heh..."

***

"Are you ok?" Wedge asked as he looked over Ian. He had been treated for, dressed in bandage, bathed and given new clothes.

"I believe so..." Ian replied slowly, "Where am I?"

"The Victoria," Wedge answered, "You are fortunate Jeice was caring enough to go back in and save you."

"Perhaps..." Ian whispered.

Ditto

Jeice walked across the bow of the ship, craning his neck upwards to look at the light wispy clouds crawling across the night sky above the airship. The moon hung like a frozen pendulum, a silent eye, gazing down past the flying vessel to the ground far below.

Almost aimlessly, he wandered around the deck to one of the other cabins, the one occupied by Siddhearth. He knocked, and heard the reply. He stepped in.

Inside, Siddhearth was standing in front of a full length mirror. The rugged, furry coat that he had worn during the skirmish lay on a chair. He stood before the mirror, donning formal evening wear, having seemed to utterly transform from the active spy into the picture of civilization and refinement. He wore a long, grey evening coat with long coattails over a grey vest. His large cuffs were ringed with silk ruffles, and he straightened a simple, black bow tie under his neck. His long hair was now combed and tied halfway down his back. A pair of shiny black shoes gleamed out from underneath his finely-tailored off-the-peg slacks. Gone was the raffish chief organizer of before. Before Jeice stood Siddhearth Seamus, the respectable and well-known composer of the acclaimed Grundon Symphony. Jeice shook his head at the man's dichotomy.

He saw Jeice in the mirror, and addressed him without turning.

"Yes?"

"Do you have time to talk?" Jeice said, feeling stupid.

Siddhearth finished his prinning, and turned to his companion with a smile. He took a gleaming gold pocketwatch out of his vest and glanced at it. It was unnecessary, but Jeice appreciated the validating gesture.

"Of course, my fellow. I have a few hours yet before I am due at the Celestia Symphony building. Do have a seat. It's been a perfectly dreadful evening. Have a sip of Red Vosh off the side-table, to shake off the night chill. I myself decanted it on the way over tonight. Don't worry about it tipping. Brother Cid makes sure his ship remains level at all times. There, now."

Jeice took advantage of the amenities, and sat down opposite Siddhearth. He looked around at his compartment. It was a mess, but it was a gentlemanly mess. Stacks of paper, tied up with strings or merely lying loose, dottled the chamber, his musical scores. The sparse furniture was mismatched, but each piece very refined. A delicate and gleaming, well-polished violin rested on a side table. Also there was a feather pen and a bottle of ink, bolted to the table. Apparently, he trusted his spirits to Cid's engineering, but ink was too precious to be left to chance. Jeice looked at his smiling companion, and continued.

"I screwed up again," he said with a sigh.

Siddhearth did not reply. There was no judgment in his posture. He seemed perfectly at ease to listen. Jeice felt a bit angry.

"Don't patronize me. I did, didn't I? Wasn't this whole thing a total failure?" Siddhearth moved in his seat.

"Now, now... A total failure is a rare thing, after all. What makes you think you did all that badly?"

"Well, we did get out of that prison..." Jeice mumbled.

"Quite so."

"...But Biggs was injured."

"Bah. Unforeseeable complication."

"I left them behind..."

"You had little choice. Biggs, er... can be quite a load." Siddhearth gave a little chuckle to himself.

"You sure were angry at Telo'Nak."

Siddhearth averted his gaze.

"Yes, well... I am afraid I must apologize for that. It was inexusable. I was frustrated. I did not expect those reapers to show up when they did, and I did not relish having to fight through them to the Prison for Biggs and Wedge. Of course, they took the initiative and headed for Raentillo, where they promptly found Cid and told him. They flew back to Tel'Nonak and found me. I told them where you were headed."

Jeice looked up.

"Building A. Why didn't you come with us?"

"I had to wait on Biggs and Wedge. I confess, I was amazed when I saw the Victoria overhead with them on board. It's a good thing they went on ahead to Raentillo. They learned the location of Building A, and enabled us to fly there. And, of course, had we not, you would have found it for us. Excellent job on that, mind you."

"Wasn't anything. I got ahold of one of their telecommunication crystals, and-" He was interupted by Siddhearth.

"Which will be useful in intercepting their further plans, I might add."

Jeice thought that over. It was true.

"...But I almost got killed."

"The world is made up of almosts. Our births themselves are incredible, considering the odds. The beginning of life itself, however it happened, must have been a near thing."

"True. But Cid said..."

"Cid is a stickler for details." Siddhearth nodded. "He prides himself on intricate schemes. They are bread and cheese to him. They are like my compositions are to me. He doesn't like to see them altered, despite the results.

"But, still, if only I was more capable, I would be more dependable, and then-"

But, at that moment, the two heard frantic pacing on the wood outside the door. Wedge burst into the room. His face was covered in sweat. At a loss for words, he gestured out into the night air. They stepped out. At first, Jeice didn't see anything, but as he looked out across the night air, he saw something. An object in the distance. It was long and thin, and seemed to rise up through a cloud, unitl it was just level with the ship. He made out a red cloak, with spreading red dragon wings, and a face underneath the hood like a deformed skull with no lower jawbone. In it's hand was a scythe. "Oh my Goddess..." Jeice cried. "The Red Reaper?! It's... up here?!

His heart stopped as he saw the grisly figure in mid-air, several yards from the ship's railing. It's dragon wings were still, and it was in a still, standing position. It's robes, however, floated as it seemed to drift slowly toward the ship. Jeice ran to the far side of the ship to find Ian. He kept his eyes on the ethereal form, and saw, in terror, that it pivoted in place, spinning so that it still pointed at him. He stood in shock.

It pointed at him.

It was coming for him.

Somehow, in that skirmish... he had aquired a mark.

And now, the Red Reaper was coming to collect...

Masamune

It seemed to smile, if such a thing could be done by a creature of such cruel creation. In it's hand it held a scythe firmly, defying gravity as it floated in the air, synchronized with the airship's speed. It began to draw closer, soon landing in front of Jeice on the platform. Underneath the red hood, a deformed skull with shinign red eyes peered forth Sprouting from the back of it's robes, were two huge bat like wings. It seemed to float by some unknown means, it's wings not even being used. It cloaked ended with rags hanging down where it's feet should have been. It was familar to a ghost in appearance.

It then shreaked and charged at Jeice, while barely dodging. The after effect was incredible, the impact of running into the ship's wall caused the ship to go off balance. Inside all the cabins things were knocked off, sleeping crewmen awaken. Siddhearth and Wedge had already came out, spotting the reaper right away. However the reaper took no notice, Jeice had been striked by a Black Reaper. It knew not whether he was dead or alive, all it knew was that he needed to be taken. And it was ready to harvest.

An arrow whizzed from afar, striking through the mid-torso of the reaper. Going through it and landing on the ground. Apparently, nothing was to be found of that area. Despite the lack of injury, it realized it was being attack. A alarm went off inside alerting it of outside interference. Something was living...

Until later, they had no idea why it happened. But it suddenly turned around and left. Giving up it's prey and simply leaving. While the four watched in shock. Before a word could be said, Cid had already marched down.

"Where is it?" Cid demanded as he looked out at the sky.

"It left..." Wedge answered as he looked beyond where the reaper had vanished.

"Yeah, but why?" Jeice asked, "It's cape was torn but..."

"There was interference," a voice said, down the corridor Reno could be seen walking towards them, "Red Reapers aren't made to fight, only to collect. Black Reapers do the killing. Asura scared it off by making it realize that it was in danger."

"It makes sense..." Cid mused, "According to the information Biggs and Wedge had gathered." Siddhearth looked down at the boy as he thought deeply, "Tell me, how do you know so much?" "Well..." Reno began, but was cut off quickly be Cid.

"We will discuss this later" Cid interrupted, receiving a sour look from his sibling. "We need to hold a 'meeting' to decide what it to be done about out new passengers."

***

They had gathered only the few of the ship involved or of signifigant importance. They had gathered in the dining room, re-done to fit the current meeting. Cid had ultimately meant to done this once they reached base, but clearly it could not be held off any longer.

"...and that's basically what happened" Jeice finished, after re-accounting how Biggs, Wedge and himself had been captured during investigation. Meeting up with the other in the destroyed Telo'Nak and the battle over Ian.

"So you say this Ian had killed a dozen or so soldiers alone?" Cid quickly asked as soon as the story was done.

"Yes, it was I" Ian replied, speaking for himself rather then Jeice who had done the majority of it. "And the reason?" Cid replied, turning to look Ian straight in the eye.

"Zel Robbins," he answered simply, "I was his tool."

Cid sighed and took a small drink out of his glass. Ian would only answer in such simple turns and never go in to detail. He turned his attention to Reno, who seemed to also hold important information.

"Now, boy... as my dear brother has already asked, how is it you know so much of the Reapers?"

Yoshiman

"Well, sir, my father used to talk all about them to me, probably just to scare me, until... they took him."

Cid blinked. "SAY WHAT?"

"The curse came about by my father. I don't know how it happened, all I know is that it was HIM who stated it all."

Cid stared intently. "How did you know?"

Reno shuddered. "All the graffiti tags in my house... that appeared during the night."

Cid leaned back into his chair. "Who was your father?"

Reno shrugged. "A nobody. His name was Telo'nak."

Siddhearth blinked. "Isn't that the name of the city?"

Reno sighed. "Sheer coincidence, I'm sure of it."

Ditto

No further info would Reno divulge before the group. He was young, but he knew how to keep his lips tight. But Jeice wondered if perhaps he'd have better luck with some inquiries of his own, later. In any case, the meeting after that quickly drew to a close.

And so, Jeice stood alone, on the deck of the Victoria, pondering what had happened in the past several hours.

And also trying to shake the lingering feeling of uneasiness that clutched him when the Red Reaper had focused it's still, deathly gaze upon him. Why had it just vanished like that? he wondered.

But now, his tired eyes beheld the metropolis of Grundon rising up from the morning mists far below, in the golden glow of the sun, which he just realized had just heralded the morning...

"Who can argue," Jeice mused aloud, "with fate and circumstance?"

Chapters in Final Fantasy OG

0 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10