Final Fantasy: Darkness Descends

[Samchu]

Lyra
~~~
“Spirans!”

One word and the thoughts that plagued my mind were gone. The impending mission, the crew, Lisette and Shayna; they were all rendered irrelevant. There was only the moment, the city, and the ones who were trying to take it.

Already the military was on the move. Several units were pouring their way into the square, blocking off the exits and restricting the battle to the square. From here we had to hold them. No Spiran could be allowed to escape. My squad was headed for me, cutting its way through the first Spiran invaders. I returned the favour, tearing through the enemies with my blade. It had been so long since it had tasted the sweet nectar of fresh blood. It almost pulsed in my hand as it ripped cleanly through flesh and bone, rendering the before it as nothing more than helpless corpses. Already I could feel the fire of life burning within me. Whatever else I was, however I thought about what life I had made me, at the end of the day I was a fighter. My place was on the battlefield.

“Captain Xanthrope. Units five through nine are securing the exits. Units two and three are headed from the Palace to engage the enemy directly. Your orders, Sir?”

I looked over the men who had been assigned to my charge. They were new graduates, men and women who hadn’t yet experienced the true terror of battle. Today they would learn. But I would ensure that it was not their last lesson.

“Evacuate the civilians. Divide yourselves into two teams and split up, one taking the West side, the other taking the East. Begin at the opposite end of the square and work your way towards the Northern entrance, driving the civilians towards the Palace. Assist those that cannot help themselves, ensure no one gets left behind. Do not engage the enemy unless necessary and do not abandon your group, understand?”

“Yes sir!”

“And you,” I pointed to one of the men near the back, still not having had the time to learn all of their names, “return to the unit on the Northern exit and when Captain Ker’ash arrives with unit one, tell him that I have requested his assistance in the protection of that exit. If the enemy is here they will be after Lord Solidor. We cannot allow that to happen.” The number of the enemy was increasing steadily. There was no more time to linger. “I don’t want anyone to die today. Good luck soldiers.”

“Good luck Captain.”

We parted ways and I dove again into the heart of battle. Every primal instinct within was roaring as I felled the men before or behind me, either with my sword or the little magic I had learned during my time in this city. But something was pulling me from the battle, something that felt both foreign and familiar, dragging me to the outskirts. It was frustrating! How could I be concerned with skirmishes when the war was being carried out before me? But then I saw and in an instant understood. You can never completely run from your past.

I threw a ball of fire at the advancing soldier and he screamed, face twisted into a look of agony as the fires consumed him. His charred body crumpled to the ground and the ninja stood there, her hand quivering on the weapon that would have maimed him. It was not in her to kill a fellow Spiran – she was not a killer.

“He would have killed you.” I knew she recognised my voice, even if she didn’t look at me. “This is a war we’re fighting in. If you don’t wear the symbols of your brothers than you are an obstacle or an enemy. They won’t take the time to look at your face and figure out if you are a Spiran or not, they will just kill you. Do you understand this?”

She was silent.

“Shayna!” I grabbed her shoulder and she pulled herself away, turning to look at me as she did. There was so much anger in those tear-filled eyes, so much hatred. I had seen those eyes before, once, many years ago. Those eyes had changed everything.

“I’m not like you!” she screamed. “I would rather die than be like you.”

I sighed, an excuse to pull myself from her gaze. It made me uncomfortable to look at her. “Your own people would kill you and still you hold on to your naïve beliefs – your simple look at the world.” I shook my head. “Fine.” I pressed the button on my sword and grabbed the cloth covering her shoulder with a firm grip. In a single motion I pulled her from the path of the oncoming Spiran and shot him in the chest. He fell to his knees as he choked blood, still making his way towards us with his half-crawl. A bullet to the brain put an end to that. “Whatever you’re thinking right now, however much you hate and despise me, if you don’t want to die then you will stay by my side and do as I tell you.”

There was a feeble nod, though I hadn’t expected to see one.

“Good.” I let her go. “Come on, we have a lot to do.” And I led her towards where I could see some of the others from our little group fighting. A group was always safer – and more formidable – than a pair.

It’s better this way. Better to have her hate me more for the things I must do than to hate herself for being forced to do the things she cannot.

Some things can never be forgiven.


~~~~~~~~
995 / #3

[Pichu Luver]

Adair Stroud

Honestly. Anyone who anticipated a moderately self-respecting pirate to protect royals was off their pony. Or Chocobo. Or rocking thing that grannies sit in contemplating punishment for a poor unsuspecting sneak-thief who only wanted to see granny got some rest from the maddening tattle parrot. With all sincerity the duck tape around Billy-Bob's beak was for grannies rest, not his escape to mommy's entertaining occupation station. Really, he adored her pecan pie.

It's a pirate's ambition to steal from them or evade their lawful ways.

Royals by the way. Grannies were people to be feared and never stolen from.

He shuddered to remember the broom. And her slow shuffle to its closet while he trembled. Knowing there was no escape, he was doomed. She was provoked and was inhumanly fast when he dared raise her ire.

Focus! People are trying to kill you.

Well currently not people per say but one inconveniently placed flan who aggravatingly happening to be in his path of descent after tripping over the idiotic placement of a Spiran gun. Really now who dropped weapons? First thing an army recruit learned was never to drop ones weapon so long as it had uses.

Not that he would... er... know.

Never mind that Sori was taking an abominably long time to get here. Best save his own skin, the Moogle wasn't likely to consider his monumental self worth all due haste.

He had one foot free and he squirmed until it was on the ground. The flan didn't much care about Adair, he'd be dead from suffocation soon enough. Or it at least thought he would be. It was in fact dealing with a stupendous Blitzball champion. He'd be fine for a good while longer.

He grunted and with a truly herculean effort he raised himself upright on one foot. He had a brief period of observing the world through blue glob-dual slime before it slid down his frame and he could breathe the sweet nectar of oxygen and gun-smoke. Then of course he realized his one leg now had flan attached to it and if he put the other down it would be in the same predicament.

“Fellow crew-people!” He hailed his mildly surprised rescuers. “A hand to remove this serious over-achiever in the inconvenience of leg fungus before I find myself the very wrong side of incapacitated!”

Sori apparently had appeared. Perhaps he enjoyed seeing Adair extend great effort for his life. Alas who can understand a Moogle? The only other one he knew insisted on flinging things at anyones' head when the bag he resided was opened. Still, they... well they were down right scary when they smiled and you were positively certain they would about to inflict something very disagreeable upon you. Child's worst nightmare he thought.

Sori smiled a truly evil smile. “No problem.”

Adair blanched.

Then screamed.

It was almost embarrassing. But truly, who would have the willpower to not scream at a astounding pitch when being electrocuted by a obscenely cute though ridiculously vindictive bat winged bunny?

Adair had many nightmares and Sori was rapidly becoming a fixture in them. Cackling away on grannies knee as she rocked that chair. Twirling his magic rod... Granny sowing and smiling oh so sweetly... both just imagining the pains to inflict upon him.

Granny had many weapons... oh yes she did.

Anyway he collapsed and the flan went up in a series of pyre-flies and he groaned, not willing to move. Possibly ever again. Or at least until the battle was over. Playing dead never hurt; other then being stepped on.

“Adair! Get up!”

“Darlin' you paid me to due your duty on the Unknown Continent to find some obsidian rust bucket that by your evidence is rather shard-like. I don't and won't so your bidding now. Sirius is your lap dog to play with for treats of the indescribable kind in present ear drum vicinity.”

He felt a gun click alarmingly close to his head.

“I am ORDERING you to get up and fight.” Adair cracked open an eyelid. Selene was glaring at him, pretty righteously furious. “And,” she crouched and practically hissed at him, “Suggest anything of that sort again and more then your ass will burn.”

He sat up and gave the best ironical bow he could from his present position. “My liege.”

She still looked like she wanted to shoot him but as he staggered to his feet (limbs twitching and Sori smirking) she let him be. Looking at him just a micro-bit confused he didn't try for a 'I'm Spiran you can't tell me to do squat' tactic.

Moving on, people were shooting at him. All of them really. They had been since when he first got trapped. He was just ignored, as a suffocating idiot is more fun to watch then maim flailing leg. Now that he was back in the fight they would try with all do effort to kill him. As they had the others while he squirmed.

By the time he turned to the fight the Guados had been dealt with but some Spirans were running at him, guns drawn (but reloading) and a might too close to deal with properly. He swung his sword up over his shoulder, grunting with the effort. He frowned as it grievously had failed to come free of the sheath.

“No matter. Batter up!”

He swung the shoulder strap off and continued his arch to slam the encased sword into the three Spiran heads. Their eyes rolled back up into their heads and they collapsed. He danced behind some cover (a decorative alcove in the ally he had been ordered to guard) and released his sword from the sheath and put the case back on.

He frowned in genuine disappointment as he contemplated his unconscious brethren.“My countrymen are idiots... and if any Ivalician responds to that comment I do not guarantee your freedom from revenge at an unspecified future time when this is over. Sirius can tell you I am decidedly innovative in my revenges.”

Sirius shuddered. Adair smirked.

Really that was all anyone needed to know.

1042/21

[classy_cat18]

Sori – Time Mage Moogle
Always in trouble

“Is this the best you have?”

The Hume at the stall shook at the rare sight of my sister’s glare. “We always carry Potions of the highest quality, ma’am.”

I laughed nervously. It was my fault that I had Kiri help me with preparing for the mission. Haggling at the bazaar always brought out the worst in her. “These will be fine. I’ll need Ether too,” I told the Hume.

Kiri puffed up and glared around the stall. “Where’s your Phoenix Down?” she demanded.

The man stiffened. “It’s rare that we carry such a thing!” he shouted.

“Uh huh. Maybe we should check another stall for our things.” She started to fly off, but I yanked her back.

“Just give us some Antidotes and Eye Drops,” I said to the shopkeeper. “And stuff for the other ailments.”

“That Ether had better not be watered down!” Kiri growled.

A shadow fell over us, and we turned to see Selene. “And I thought you were bad tempered,” she told me.

Kiri’s ears shot up, and she started waving her arms around in panic. “I’m sorry! It’s just that I had a few bad deals before, so I can’t really trust anyone!”

“She’s usually a lot nicer than this,” I said. Kiri’s ears drooped as she nodded in agreement. “By the way, this is my sister Kiri. She’s gaining a reputation here as a good Tinker.”

Kiri shook her hand (okay, maybe more like finger) and paid the Hume as he put everything in a bag. “I’ll give you a small discount since we didn’t have the Phoenix Down you wanted,” he said nervously. “I hope you’ll choose me for future shopping.”

My sister smiled and pocked the change. “I must be going now, kupo. There’s this clock that has been very stubborn today, and I told the customer that I would have it fixed by closing time.” She flew off.

Selene took the bag. “Come on, we’re about ready to go.”

We rejoined the rest of the group. A minute later, a new person joined us. My eyes widened as she introduced herself. “Another Viera?” I quietly asked Selene.

“Is there a problem?” she asked with a threatening glance.

I opened my mouth to remind her of the bad track record that Viera had when it came to surviving with us, but I wisely kept quiet. Then Sirius came and nearly knocked me out with his meaty bone, oblivious to how close I was to knocking him out with my rod. He threw it over his shoulder to Lyra, who caught it and snapped it in half before dropping it on the ground.

Not long after we returned to the Wolfstar and witnessed the disgusting kiss between Selene and Sirius (I seriously would never forget that face on the pirate as he writhed in pain), we ran into trouble.

“SPIRANS!”

That’s right. We ran into trouble before we even left port!

“Get off the ship!” Selene commanded. Everyone left the ship before we could be pummeled by enemy fire, Nii being the last one out as she was in another part of the ship. I could see the Al Bhed stiffen as she saw the Spiran soldiers gather in the plaza, their rifles similar to her own. Although she seemed reluctant to fire on them, she slipped on her goggles and prepared herself.

I raised my rod and proceeded to hold the front line back with elemental spells, managing to slow them down. But the next group was going to be harder to take down. “They have summoners!” I yelled to the others, not knowing the race of them but recognizing the clothing.

“Who the hell are they?” Selene asked.

“Guado my lady, I believe Temzi is of their kind,” Sirius explained. “Known to be a sour lot, with tendencies to—“ He stopped when something shot out from the ground and materialized to three Flan. “Summon fiends.”

“Oh…” Selene’s expression worsened. “Perfect.”

My bad mood was lightened when I saw that Adair was trapped in one of the Flan’s wobbly gelatin bodies. He was struggling and reaching out for us; my evil side couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight.

“Flan are weak against magic, correct?” Selene asked Lisette, the new Viera.

She nodded. “Their opposing element.”

My grin widened. The Flan that had swallowed Adair was a Water type.

I would get to zap Adair.

Oh, how fun.

“Hm…” Selene looked at me, and I wiped the grin off my face before nodding. “Right, we protect Sori from the guards, he kills the Flan, we save the ditzy pilot…”

“A sound plan,” Adair agreed. “Shall we?”

The others nodded. I stayed close to them as we charged into the fray, heading over to Adair. A few Spiran soldiers armed with swords intercepted us when we were almost there. “Get ready, Sori!” Selene said to me.

“Okay!” I closed my eyes and concentrated gathering my mana, getting a Thunder ready. It was the first time I had used Focus. My body was surrounded my a crackling yellow aura.

“Fellow crew-people!” Adair called out to us. “A hand to remove this serious over-achiever in the inconvenience of leg fungus before I find myself the very wrong side of incapacitated!”

I was bristling with anticipation. Adair could see my evil smile from where he was trapped. "No problem," I said darkly.

Oh, the scream he released when I unleashed my Thunder was so satisfying. It was too bad the Flan disintegrated after one attack. Oh well, I’ll just take it out on the enemy’s hides.

939 words. 16 Sori posts.

Niosa Tiera – Al Bhed Gunner
In a pickle

“Back on the Wolfstar…” I said quietly to myself as I walked back down to my quarters. Like I expected, Kumas was still in there, powered down like instructed. “Kumas, Nii is back.”

At the sound of my voice, the machina’s lights lit up as he awoke. “Did you miss Nii?” I asked him curiously.

Kumas kept staring at the opposite wall. Anyone else wouldn’t have thought much about it, but it seemed to me like he was intentionally ignoring me. I sighed and sat on the bed before talking again. “We’re going back, Kumas. Nii didn’t really want to do it, but Selene asked her for a favor.” Kumas finally looked down at me, his lights flickering for a moment. “Nii is in trouble. If Nii attacks Spirans, they’ll label her a traitor. If she doesn’t protect Selene, she’ll break the contract and be in trouble with Ivalice.”

“Se…lene…” a slow robotic voice replied.

I gasped and looked up at him with wide eyes. “Did you—“ I started.

“SPIRANS!”

I instinctively ran out the room to see the others leaving the ship. I got out just in time to miss the rain of cannon fire on the Wolfstar. “What is Spira doing on Ivalice?” I yelled out.

Soldiers marched out into the plaza. The hand clutching Vena shook violently. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat. I’m not a traitor, I assured myself as I slipped on my goggles. Just concentrate on protecting everyone.

As I raised my rifle to a soldier with a similar rifle, a horrifying thought came to me.

I’ve never killed a human.

But they had, and they weren’t hesitating like I was.

“Aah!” My hand went to my neck as something grazed it. I had narrowly missed being fatally shot. Anger rose in me, and I shot a Fire to the one that had attacked, watching as he burned upon impact.

I kept attacking from a distance, also picking off units that were confronting Lyra and Shayna. There was so much chaos that I couldn’t keep my eye on everything, especially what went on behind me.

“WHAT’S THAT!”

I turned my head to the source of the screaming, to the Wolfstar. Spirans fell and dove out the way as a blue blur ran past them. My jaw dropped. “Kumas?”

The machina skidded to a stop a few feet from me, his lights once more red. If he had a real personality, he would’ve been pissed off. His eyes shone brightly until a red beam shot out and blasted the nearest group of enemy soldiers.

Shayna gawked at Kumas as she and Lyra stood by me. “Why didn’t you tell me that Kumas could shoot laser beams?” she demanded.

“Nii didn’t know that! Kumas didn’t even know attacks for a long time!” I yelled.

Kumas approached me. “What… are… commands?” he asked slowly.

Shayna’s eyes widened even more. “He can talk too?”

I laughed nervously and turned back to Kumas. “Assist us in holding back enemy units, Kumas. They must not reach the castle!”

“Understood.” He jumped into the fray and knocked back several soldiers that were still dazed from his previous attack. I smirked and continued my attack, strangely pumped for battle.

549 words. Pathetic. 17 Nii posts.

[ChobiChibi]

Shayna~

“Lyra, what did you get today?” Fin, the older and taller of the three boys, asked, nudging her older sister with his pointy elbow.

“Yeah, Lyra, you actually manage to take anything?” Cole, the middle sized one, chimed. Fin was like an idol to him. It didn’t change much as they grew up, either. Always the pair of them teaming up to pick on the rest of us.

I remember watching the conversation unfold from a short distance away. We had been instructed to meet under the clock tower at 15:00 hours sharp, to make sure we had all gotten back in one piece and go out and look for whichever sibling may have gotten lost or possibly caught whilst working. Each day, we were assigned a different area of Luca to scam, steal and loot as much as we could and told to meet back at an alternating location.

I was running slightly late, I had had a little trouble with some guards, but managed to get away without causing too much suspicion. Since I was eldest, it was my job to make sure that everyone was okay. Luckily for me, they’d all arrived; otherwise I would have been in a lot of trouble once our father met up with us.

I watched as Lyra bit her lip and shook her head slowly. I knew this would be her answer. She didn’t have it in her to steal from people, she didn’t think it was fair. Father once tried to explain to her that we only took from those more fortunate than others, but she still refused. Yet, each day he still sent her out in hope that she would change her mind.

“Why not?” Fin questioned, his face creased into a scowl. “Even Hayden managed to get a few things today!”

Hayden, the youngest of the boys, grinned and held out a small purse and an apple. “The lady gave me an apple.”

“I didn’t want to.” Lyra stated, shifting her feet a little in discomfort.

“Lyra looks sad...” Hayden mumbled, his lower lip sticking out as a pout. “Lyra, have my apple. Show Daddy you got an apple.”

Cole snatched the apple from the little boy’s hand. “She doesn’t deserve it, Hayden! She never brings anything back for the family, she doesn’t deserve to share any of it.”

This was the point where I knew I had to intervene. Despite the boys being younger than her, both Fin and Cole were nearly as tall as her, and certainly stronger. I hurried to join them, standing behind Lyra and placing my hands on her shoulders.

“But we’re family, so we stick up for each other, right?” I interrupted as Hayden clung to me. I glared at our brothers behind Lyra’s back. “No matter what happens, we’ll always be Xanthropes.”

“I guess...” Fin mumbled, folding his arms and scowling as Cole nodded in agreement.

“Well then, we’d best be heading home.” I instructed, taking Lyra and Hayden’s hands, leading the way and swinging their arms as the other two followed behind us.

On my right, I felt Lyra squeeze my hand, so I turned to look at her. Her bright blue eyes glistened in the sunlight and a small smile replaced the previously worried look. “Thank you.” She said quietly.

There was no need to tell her that I had similar feelings to her brothers on the subject of her lack of participation. They weren’t as strong, but it was undeniable that they were there. In a way I envied her; I wished that I held the same morals as she did and a longing for something better in life, away from becoming wealthier. I was greedy, she was selfless.

I felt proud of her when she decided to join the Military. She talked to me about it before she finally made up her mind and I encouraged her. She would do the Xanthrope family proud by serving her country.

I lost all those feelings once she betrayed us.

Especially when I found out she’d joined the Ivalican army.

So I found it highly ironic that she was trying to protect me now, in the present day, after all that had happened between us.

~~~

Shay pretty much followed the Captain like a zombie as she reminisced about their childhood. Never on the offense, she just did what was necessary to keep herself alive and avoid friendly fire from Nii. She aimed to incapacitate; she wasn’t afraid to cause their attackers pain, even if they were Spiran, she just couldn’t kill them.

Her daze was rudely interrupted by a giant red laser beam swooshing past them. The sisters both turned for a moment to find its source. Kumas.

“Wait a second...” Shay mumbled as they headed towards Nii and her robot friend. “Why didn’t you tell me that Kumas could shoot laser beams?”

“Nii didn’t know that! Kumas didn’t even know attacks for a long time!” Nii yelled.

“What… are… commands?” The machine asked its owner as it approached her.

Shayna’s eyes widened even more. “He can talk too?”

Nii laughed a little. “Assist us in holding back enemy units, Kumas. They must not reach the castle!”

“Understood.”

The laser eyed robot jumped enthusiastically into battle, knocking down Spirans like a 10 pin bowler. Now the three of them had a little more to worry about. Despite Kumas providing them with a distraction, it was actually causing them to gain more attention, like someone placed a neon light above their heads telling the attackers they were to be targeted.

“This is unlike you...” Lyra commented between shooting two people clean in the head.

“What do you mean?” Shay asked, throwing her Shuriken at a guy that was trying to attack Nii from behind.

“Making friends with an Al Bhed...” There was a tinge of disgust in her voice. She wasn’t particularly fond of the Al Bhed either.

“Things change, Lyra.” She said quickly, catching her stray Shuriken and using it to block an attack. “I find Nii to be better company than some people, even if she does believe that Kumas has a consciousness.” She chuckled as she dodged and blocked another attack. “I’m starting to believe her.”

“Father wouldn’t be impressed.”

Shayna felt her blood boil a little at that comment. “I think you should be more concerned with that.”

“Nii is confused by your bickering.” The Al Bhed joined in as she got closer to them again.

“It doesn’t matter though...” Shay continued, pretty much ignoring Nii, a smirk growing from the corner of her lips. “No matter what happens, we’ll always be Xanthropes.”

Lyra remained silent, much to Shay’s delight. She was pissed off, which made things better in the Ninja’s mind.

“Xanthropes?” Nii questioned, very confused. “Captain Xanthrope is...”

“Nii, I’d like you to meet my sister.”

1142/12

[VirtualPlay]

Name: Kaida Liena
Age: 21
Race: Al Bhed (mostly - see History)
Gender: Female
Origin: Ivalice

Appearance: Stands 5'8" with a medium frame, her skin is slightly tanned. Her hair is a dirty blond color, somewhat wavy, and is shoulder-length. Her eyes are spiral like Al Bhed, but rather than green they're a bright blue color.
She wears a short blue cloth shirt, sort of a tank top; it just barely reveals her navel, and the straps are large ones that cross in front to straighten in back. Over this, she wears a darker blue, short leather vest which barely covers the tank in the front (though completely in back); it fastens in the front with black leather straps, and the cloth extends out to form thick shoulder-pads. She wears a pair of blue short-shorts of thick cloth (sort of jean-like). She wears a pair of knee-high boots, black in color, fastened with dark blue laces. She has on a pair of black leather fingerless gloves that extend up most of the way to her elbow, and she keeps her hair back with a thick blue headband that matches her tank-top color. She also wears a thick leather belt that holds her guns holsters, as well as a pair of brass-colored goggles with green-tinted lenses. She carries her gadgets and explosives in two dark-blue leather pouches that are strapped to either thigh.

Personality: Kaida can be summed up in three words: bubbly, but serious. When nothing's wrong, Kaida is very energetic, giddy, and easily excitable. She makes friends easily and loves to have fun; of course, most of her definition of fun involves fiddling with machina. However, when things take a serious turn, she too becomes serious. She still has a happy edge, but she keeps it in check as she does what needs to be done to ensure everything works right.

Weapon Style: Spiran
Weapon Type: Dual Firearm
Weapon: Her two guns are Janedyc (left hand) and Yaxiedyc (right hand). Both are nearly identical. They both are semi-automatic pistols, blocky in shape, with the slide mechanism being a metallic pale blue color. The only difference between the two is the inscription of the names of each on the outside of the slide mechanism in Al Bhed (so Janedyc has its name on the left side, while Yaxiedyc has its name on the right side).

History: Kaida's true history isn't what those around her think is true. Currently a leading officer in the Spiran assault on Ivalice, she has earned that rank from her apparent loyalty to Spira with her Al Bhed history as well as her ingenious tactical ideas. Unbeknown to them, however, she had simply used her Al Bhed lineage to earn that position. She is actually of royal Ivalician descent, having a great-grandfather who was in the Ivalician guard when he was alive; he married an Al Bhed, as did their child and grandchild, making her one-eigth Hume. At a young age she was brought over to Spira and raised in the Spiran army with the intent of her leading an offensive on Ivalice when the inevitable war broke out, thus allowing Ivalice to have a spy in the army. Unfortunately the war broke out sooner than expected, leaving Kaida as a second-in-command (though still high enough up to tell people what to do). Currently she's running towards an oddly-populated plaza in Ivalice…

Other: It's probably not hard to figure out her favorite color…

~~~~~~~~~~

Kaida Liena - Al Bhed Gunner
On board a Spiran drop ship
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"Lieutenant Liena!"

"Sir!" I responded, snapping to attention. Captain Sien was the only person on this mission who had more authority than me, a fact I was a little irked about but it had still worked out fairly well. After all, he wasn't going to be following us down just yet.

And if I had my way, he wouldn't follow at all.

"Is your Machina troop set for deployment?" he asked.

"Yes, sir!" I said, "We are prepared to jump in and take the castle."

"Excellent, at ease," he said, and I relaxed. "If this goes well, I'll get promoted to Major, and I'll be gunning for you to take my place as Captain." He put his hand on my hair and rubbed, like a parent would rub the head of his child.

I smiled; I almost hoped that this operation would succeed just to make it that far, but this was the mission I was supposed to have been that high for. "Thank you, sir," I said. He nodded and turned back towards the cockpit.

Suddenly I saw an opportunity; I quickly and quietly reached into my pocket, fiddled with the device I pulled out, then ran over to Captain Sien again. "Sir," I said, patting him on the back, "good luck up there in the higher seats." He nodded at me with a smile, thankfully oblivious to the small, camouflaged mechanical device that now stuck in the flaps of his coat.

Quickly I ran towards where the giant Machina was set to be dropped into the fray. This thing was huge, armored both against physical and magical attacks, and as slow as any modern Machina could be. It was intended to charge straight through any line of defense while taking a beating, then ram into the target building (the castle in this case) and allow the riders to simply charge through the newly formed opening in the building; it even had no weapons it was too laden with armor. With all that armor this meant it was ridiculously slow, but for my purposes that would be just fine.

After a couple minutes we had reached the drop point, and suddenly we were in a short free fall which caused a massive shock wave as the Machina landed. Slowly it started moving towards a plaza where the resistance was striking its last chance. It was there that I needed to be, sans this huge Machina. This meant I had four things to do before I could be there.

1: I had to stop the Machina.
2: I had to escape the immobile Machina.
3: I had to somehow destroy or incapacitate the Machina.
4: I had to run towards the plaza, avoiding any curious eyes from the assault that might think I stopped the Machina, as well as keep the defense from killing me before I got there.

Of course, number 3 would prove most difficult, as the point of the Machina was to be indestructible. But as I maneuvered through the Engine Room to disable it, I realized I could kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. The Machina was large enough to need a separate engine room, but still small enough to only have one person running it; they were easily stunned and I was quickly finding the fuel line to sever it.

I put a small slit in the line, then reached in my left leg pouch for a mine; I set the timer to one minute, then hoped the reaction would occur as I had hoped. Quickly I sprinted towards the front to the cockpit, then grabbed both my guns and walloped the two drivers over the head, knocking them out. I pushed the button to open the front hatch, then dove through before it was fully open. The Machina was slowing down at this point from the lack of fuel, and as soon as I hit the ground I was running.

No more than 5 seconds later, a large explosion erupted from the Machina, but I was already in the throng of foot soldiers rushing towards the plaza. The current rush of bodies was probably going to be a bit much for the plaza defense to handle easily, so I figured I'd take out most of this line to help out. I grabbed the five mines I had remaining in my right pouch, set them all to 20 seconds, then started dropping them every few feet as I ran.

As I dropped the second to last one, I was close enough to see the plaza defense clearly. So clearly, that I quickly noticed an attacker from another line was about three seconds from taking out a Moogle defender that was too focused on the line I was in. I quickly disabled my last mine, tossed it back in my pouch, then jumped out towards that line, praying nobody in the plaza hit me. My guns were out before anyone could react, and the would-be Moogle-killer soon found two of my rounds stuck in his head.

The Moogle let out a squeak as the dead attacker let out his final grunt as he fell towards the small furry creature. My jump carried me into the body, knocking it away from falling on his small body. At least, I assumed it was a he, Moogles were hard to tell at first glance. But once I had stood up and quickly surveyed the group, I found I was right in my assumption.

Just as people were turning their attention to me, a massive explosion shook from the line I had jumped from, destroying the entire line of foot soldiers. They started looking between the decimated army and me. One of the men—who happened to look like he had been struck by lightning, or perhaps a Thunder—spoke up, "An' just who the hell d'you think you are, missy?"

"I," I said with emphasis, "just happened to help take out an entire line of the offensive on your position, as well as a giant indestructible Machina headed for the castle." A loud explosion rocked the skies as the bomb I had planted on Sien's coat finally blew. The drop ship was effectively blown to bits, as debris slowly trailed down through the sky. I smiled as I added, "Oh, as well as a Spiran drop ship."

-=-=-=-=- 1056 / 01 -=-=-=-=-

[Crystal Tears]

.: + ♦ Selene Solidor ♦ + :.

Selene looked at the Spiran soldier with some surprise; she had just betrayed her side beyond what most soldiers would’ve done. The Judge moved forward, helping the girl off the ground as there was a brief, cherished break in the fighting since the Spirans were reeling from the sudden loss of men. The woman bowed her head respectfully, as if knowing exactly who the Judge was.

“Judge Luna, I’m at your service.”

“… Who are you soldier?”

“Kaida Liena, former Lieutenant of Spiran invasion forces.” She smiled at the end of that.

“Yes…” Selene looked at the range of dead bodies. “I can see that…”

“Oh! Right… Here…” The girl handed Selene a piece of parchment. She read it quickly and raised an eyebrow.

‘Just how many spies does my father have?’ She thought before looking at Liena. “Well… I’ll put your mission down as a success.”

The girl beamed. “Thanks!”

“Miss, how do you even know you can trust this woman?” Lisettte’s voice cut into Selene’s mind just as the group was beginning to ready themselves again. She looked over at her new bodyguard and then at Sirius, Nii, and the others who were not blatantly aligned with her beloved country.

“We trust them, don’t we?”

“Correction Miss, you do.” The Viera commented.

Selene rolled her eyes. “Alright, I trust them… To an extent..” she turned her attention back to Kaida. “How many more waves are there?”

“One more to my knowledge. It’s larger than the one I exterminated… And it has a tank.”

“Great…” Selene looked to Lyra and Shayna who were approaching. “Lyra get the men ready, another wave is coming and it has tanks.”

Lyra nodded quickly and left Shay’s side to run to the men.

“Oy!” Adair piped up over the commotion of everyone readying themselves. “This band of moderately armed riff-raff is inordinately inadequate to deal with rolling death carts. Unless Sori is hiding an inner Duracell bunny, unlikely, our Spiran friends will be passing the maple syrup.”

Selene raised an eyebrow at the swaggering pirate. “Go get the ship.”

The pilot looked before confused. “Eh?”

“The ship has guns.”

“Aye.”

“You’re a pilot…”

“Of esteemed quality.”

“You can fly the ship that has guns…” Selene trailed off, and suddenly the man clued in.

“Ah. My faculties have been slowed by the progression of electricity through my form. I WAS FRIED.”

Despite the inappropriate time to snicker, Selene couldn’t hold back a chuckle at that last exclamation.

“Oh…” Lisette gave a sideways glance. “And what a tragedy that was…”

He looked her up and down. “Listen missy just because you’re-“

“ADAIR.” Selene snarled, and suddenly the man was back to paying attention. “GO.”

“Right… I’ll be back!” He ran off, down the street towards where the ship was anchored and out of sight.

“Lady Selene!” Temzi’s voice surprisingly broke over the soldiers chitchat; the Dragoon hit the ground as suddenly there was a massive explosion. Pieces of the building next to him went flying every which way possible and everyone was sent reeling for cover. Selene uncovered her eyes to see Spiran soldiers pouring in again, with the loud rumble of a tank behind them.

Temzi looked up at her. “They’re here…”

* * *

Selene didn’t exactly like hiding in cover, it wasn’t her style. But many of the men fighting for Ivalice who had dared to run out were either gunned down by the sheer amount of Spirans now pouring in, or blasted into pieces by the rampaging tank that made holding the enemy back a pain. The Judge grumbled, waiting for that accursed Wolfstar and its pilot weren’t going to keep them alive for long, and if that tank reached the castle…

‘Alright…’ She thought as she took a quick glance of her surroundings. ‘Need a plan… Need a…’ She dared to look again and shot down a soldier while she was at it. ‘The square is falling apart under that heavy fire…’

“Kaida!” She cried, and the soldier moved over to her, barely dodging a barrage of fire.

“What’s up?”

“How did you blow up that entire line of soldiers?”

“Grenades Miss, they’re incredibly handy.”

“Right… See that pillar on the opposing side of the square?”

She took a quick glance. “The crumbling one?”

“Yes, that would be the one… Can you throw that far?”

“Unfortunately no, and it’d be suicide for me to head out there. They’ve blasted much of the cover.”

Selene frowned, that was a considerable hole in her plan. The only one who probably had enough luck to run across that square and not receive any sort of accountable wound would be Adair, and he was getting the ship. Either that or he had abandoned them here, and that meant it was up to them to stop the tank, without any sort of air support.

“Right… Temzi!”

The armoured clad man appeared next to her, the sharp sound of a bullet ricocheting off his armour made the Judge wince a little. Then she blinked, and looked back at the silent Dragoon with new hope.

“That’s it!”

“Pardon madam?”

“I think I’ve missed something…” Kaida noted.

“Temzi do you see that pillar?” Selene risked it and pointed towards it before ducking down.

“What about it milady?”

“I want you to blow it up.”

“I have no explosives-“

Kaida abruptly shoved a grenade into the Guado’s hand; he stared at it curiously before tightening his hold on it.

“I will succeed madam, that pillar will fall.”

“Is that the plan?” Sirius called over from another point of cover. “Send in the damn anchor armed with a lance and a grenade? Selene did you bump your pretty little head again when I wasn’t looking?”

“Sirius another comment like that and I break your nose!”

“Right my fiery beauty, what are our orders then?”

“Covering fire!” Selene called, as suddenly the Ivalician side of the battlefield erupted, magic and bullets flying towards the Spirans who were getting a bit cocky. Temzi moved out, his armour deflecting the shots as he prepared to mow down anyone in his way.

* * 1026 / 30 * *

Challenge: Post at least once before Rio posts on Thursday. There may be a reward in involved for those that do. It’s open right now to do what you want in this fight, so have a ball killing Spirans. But no, you may not destroy the tank, but you can wound it XD

[Samchu]

Lyra
~~~~

I couldn't believe that my sister had sunk so low as to make friends with an Al Bhed. Al Bheds were scum. A filthy, pathetic race of barbaric beings who tried to hide their savagery behind complex machina. The prospect of being trapped on a ship with one of them was bad enough but, I discovered with disgust, they were multiplying. And what was worse, it was the traitors who were bulking our numbers.

“Lyra get the men ready, another wave is coming and it has tanks.”

I nodded to Selene and ran to the men. Our ranks had been thrown into disarray following the first assault and now, in the break that battle had allowed, the wounded were being tended to at last. "Everyone, back into formation! The enemy is coming with a second wave and we must be ready for them. Get the wounded off of the battlefield and we will use them as additional defence once they are ready to rejoin the fight." They weren't happy with what I said but they obeyed.

I watched them scatter into position and hoped Selene would be ok. I didn't trust an Al Bhed spy, regardless of any papers they carried or any words that they spoke.

* * *

A deep roar pierced the battlefield as the tank rolled into action. Mages moved the earth to give us cover but the tank's shells tore through them as though there were as thin as paper. We took shelter in the buildings when we could but even that was falling. The major problem was protecting the road, without giving the tank and the overwhelming number of Spiran soldiers easy targets to aim at.

"Need to do something about that damn tank..." My grip tightened around the handle of my blade. The blood in my veins was boiling. I needed to act. "Cover me," I said to the mage beside me. "I don't care how you do it, just keep that gun fire off of me for a few minutes."

"What are you - Captain Xanthrope!"

I was away. I sprinted with my legs, bent low to the ground with my sword at my side. Spiran soldiers in my way were cut down before they knew I was even there. I grinned. The little bast*** had cast haste on me. I was at the tank's side in moments and pulled back my blade, charging the only technique I could think of. I needed to give this damn thing a weak point, something for us to aim at. I brought the blade down and the technique pierced the side of its armour, exposing the darkness of the core beyond the thick metal shell.

I prepared to attack but their attention was on me now. The fire of their guns drove me back under cover. "Dammit, I was so close to making an opening." I stretched the muscles in my hands and prepared to brave the danger again.

"Captain, look!"

I peeked round the edge of the wall against which we were hiding and saw the Dragoon running across the square, his armour deflecting the Spiran bullets, sometimes right back at them. I smiled, sensing the plan to be of Selene's creation.

"Cover fire for the Dragoon!" I shouted above the storm of battle, hoping that my men could hear me. I switched from sword to gun and opened fire. Gods let this work. We're ****ed if that tank gets out of this square.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#4
582 words
(yeh its short but im exhausted!)

[VirtualPlay]

Kaida Liena - Al Bhed Gunner
Hiding behind cover
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
"I was expecting a difficult time keeping the last wave back, but this is ridiculous!" I muttered under my breath. Every so often the attack would lessen on my cover, allowing me to reach out and take down another half dozen soldiers before being forced back. "If only I had more grenades…" I muttered, playing with the one I had left.

"Kaida!" Selene called out from her cover a few feet away. I hoped for the best as I dove through the gap separating us. I could feel a couple whizzing by as they thankfully missed me. As I landed, Selene explained about the crumbling pillar on the other side, which my grenade could easily take down. Unfortunately it was on the other side of the square with no cover between here and there.

She instead called over Temzi, the dragoon. A bullet ricocheting off of his armor apparently gave her a crazy idea. But it was crazy in a 'this could just work if done right' way. Hoping that this Temzi wasn't a technological numbnut like some of the people I used to have to work with, I shoved my last grenade into his oversized hand. He looked at it quickly, then grasped it tightly.

"I will succeed madam, that pillar will fall," he said, very sure of himself.

"Is that the plan?" one of the other Humes under Selene called out from another wall of cover, "Send in the damn anchor armed with a lance and a grenade? Selene, did you bump your pretty little head again when I wasn’t looking?"

"Sirius, another comment like that and I break your nose!" Selene countered, her anger visibly rising.

The one called Sirius retorted with, "Right my fiery beauty, what are our orders then?"

"Covering fire!" Selene yelled out, and all of a sudden everyone within earshot started firing at the Spirans. They had gotten a little too sure of their position and it took them a while to counter. I took the opportunity and ran towards some cover with a different vantage point.

I ended up behind a fallen wall from some building. Shame, really; it looked like it had been a nice building. As I hung at the edge to wait for an opening, a sound from the other end of the wall let me know I wasn't the only one using it for cover. I looked over and saw the Al Bhed girl I had noticed earlier; she looked about my age, maybe a little younger, and had a blue and yellow robot-like machina with her.

"Hello," I said, lifting my goggles to try and not put her off, "I'm Kaida."

She looked over and stared at me. She seemed to be very interested in my eyes, before muttering, "Another Al Bhed…" under her breath. Then a smile suddenly broke across her face before she added, "Rybbeacd tyo uv Nii's meva…" in Al Bhed. "Dra hysa'c Niosa pid oui lyh zicd cyo Nii. Yht drec ec…"

A blast through the wall above us interrupted the introduction of her metal friend, and we were forced instead to dive behind a different nearby wall to avoid the falling debris.

-=-=-=-=- 531 / 02 -=-=-=-=-

Short, but that's what you get for making me post so soon after my last post…

[classy_cat18]

Sori – Moogle Time Mage
Currently listening to “B.O.B.” by Outkast

It was supposed to be pretty simple: zap, burn, freeze, or drown the nasty Sprian soldiers. Avoid everyone else. Make sure no one advances. Somehow, defending myself was nowhere on my mind.

That is, until I heard someone groaning in pain.

As he was about to fall on me.

Dead.

I was too surprised about the dead body to escape from its weight, only able to let out a squeak. Fortunately, it was knocked away from me by some female stranger. I was still too surprised to say anything to her, although it would’ve been fitting to at least say “thanks”.

Gratitude was further delayed when we all heard an explosion, as well as the cries of many soldiers, ring from the line that the stranger had jumped from. My surprise was now blended with gratitude, amazement, and amusement. Those feelings grew when we heard a second explosion, followed by bits of enemy ship raining from the sky. She proclaimed proudly that it was all her doing. Where did this girl come from? She is one certifiable nutjob.

My ears sprang up when what looked like a Hume arm landed near me from a sky. I sighed. I’m impressed. Not a lot of people can pull off so much destruction on purpose.

My answer was answered as introduced herself as “Kaida Liena, former lieutenant of Spiran invasion forces”. I silently commented on how easily people were swayed to the other side these days. Feeling my wings get tired, I landed on a fallen lamppost near Kaida for a better look. She was wearing green goggles, not too different to Nii’s black ones. Kaida temporarily slid them up, giving my first good view of her blue eyes.

With spiral pupils.

“Well, I’ll be. Another Al Bhed,” I muttered to myself.

Kaida informed Selene that there was only one more wave of soldiers, and that they had a bigger tank than the one she blew up earlier. Just hearing that seemed to drain any mana that I had left. Nevertheless, I stood on the lamppost and got ready to give whatever I had.

Lyra went to tell her men to get ready. “Oy!” Adair shouted over the commotion. “This band of moderately armed riff-raff is inordinately inadequate to deal with rolling death carts. Unless Sori is hiding an inner Duracell bunny, unlikely, our Spiran friends will be passing the maple syrup.” I nodded in agreement.

Selene gave another one of those ‘don’t make me kill you’ looks. “Go get the ship.”

The pilot looked before confused. “Eh?”

“The ship has guns.”

“Aye.”

“You’re a pilot…”

“Of esteemed quality.”

“You can fly the ship that has guns…” Selene trailed off, like she was talking to a retarded Seeq.

“Ah. My faculties have been slowed by the progression of electricity through my form. I WAS FRIED.”

“Damn right,” I commented with pride.

After a little more squabbling, Selene got Adair to get the Wolfstar. Temzi’s voice roared out, very shocking since I had never heard him speak above his “bold chivalry” speaking voice. My sensitive ears picked up the sound of something whistling through the air. At that moment, the building next to him exploded, sending debris everywhere. I took off to avoid shards of glass and took cover.

The last wave of enemy soldiers was approaching, accompanied by their tank. I looked back in the direction of where the Wolfstar was supposed to be docked. Adair, if you don’t come back soon, I’ll drag your sorry ass corpse back myself.

While I was worrying and seething, Selene had come up with a crazy yet brilliant plan: use our own living tank to charge in and blow up a nearby pillar, probably able to take out the last line and damage if not incapacitate the tank. Temzi was all for it, and he charged in like Kumas did a little while ago.

It seemed to do well, but I couldn’t help but noticed that there were now enemy gunners on the roofs of nearby buildings, armed with long-range rifles. And one of them was aiming for Temzi. If he had strong enough ammo…

“Hold up!” I called out as I flew as fast as I could. I had no mana so I did the only thing I could think of. I kept out of sight of his scope and circled around, then gave him my hardest headbutt. The Hume soldier grunted and was knocked off-target.

His new target? The nearest sniper.

Not intended, but a nice bonus.

“You little rat—“ the Hume started.

“THAT’S IT!” I screamed as grabbed his hair and bit his ear. The guy screamed in pain and flailed around, trying to throw me off. I let go and raised my rod. “Say goodnight, pal!” I clocked him upside the head with it, knocking him out. Hey, who said that rods were just for magic?

I searched the man’s pockets and found a half-empty bottle of Ether. Not caring to know what a Gunner was doing with Ether, I drank it then looked down at Nii and the new Al Bhed, Kaida. The two were together behind a wall of the ruined building. They could help with the rest of the gunners.

882 words. 17 Sori posts.

[Weasel Overlord]

Temzi :: Dragoon of Justice
:: a quest of some importance ::

Temzi found himself unable to believe his helm-covered ears. An actual Quest! A Quest of Great Importance, no less! And he had the memorabilia to prove it, he thought, clasping one hand tightly around the foreign contraption.

His other hand, as usual, bore Dragon's Whisper, his lance, which he twirled in anticipation as he set off at a dead run – or as much of a dead run as one largely-armoured Guado Dragoon could, anyway.

Somewhere deep within his heart, Temzi had a suspicion that slaying his kith and kin was against some sort of rule, but so many years basically being brought up by the Academy had left him somewhat more loyal to his Dragoon path than to his own race. You didn't see so many Guado here in Ivalice, and as a matter of course, Temzi had almost forgotten what the rest of his people looked like. He had only fuzzy memories of children his own age laughing at his hair for, he assumed, being the wrong colour. Having no reference point to compare himself to had only done wonders for Temzi's confidence, however, and that particular sting of crying in a corner had left him with no fondness for his own race.

And so it was with great satisfaction that Temzi clutched the metal ball. Only... well, no-one had thought to tell him how to work the device. He was certain that he would figure it out, or at the very least that Kain would show him the way. But until then, he still had Whisper, and it was calling out for the blood of his enemies.

One of the remaining Guado mages flung himself in futility at Temzi, screaming his anger as he brandished a long, slender staff. Temzi swayed out of the way, surprisingly fluid for one in such heavy armour, and severed the staff with a flick of his halberd. The imbued-half of the staff clattered to the floor, sparking as its magic drained into the ground, its light finally going out – drowned in the blood of its owner.

Stepping over the body, Temzi glanced around at the muted carnage. One major advantage of his helm was the added peace it gave to the midst of a battle. His ears did not ring with the dying screams of enemies, and his mind was becalmed, giving him room to think and plan and react. He supposed that others would find it restrictive, or even deadly, but Temzi was thankful.

He was also thankful for the armour which protected his fragile body from bullets – which ricocheted around him like hailstones, bouncing off but never quite making a difference. He had trust that the crew would cover him, so when Sori came flying out of nowhere to take down a sniper, he tipped his spear to him in gratitude.

His charge had been hindered slightly by the piles of bodies which he had to pick his way over, but he'd always been good at obstacle courses, macabre as that sounded, the battlefield was most often highly reminiscent of an obstacle course from the Academy. Perhaps the professors had done that on purpose, he pondered, while leaping a pile five or six high.

And then, suddenly, the gloried pillar was in his full view. It loomed into his eye-line like one of the thick tree trunks he remembered from his first home in Guadosalam. And he supposed that he should feel nostalgia and warmth at that thought, but suddenly he was filled with an almost uncontrollable rage. The answer to the puzzle of the explosive contraption opened in his mind like a flower, and the battlefield seemed to almost slow down in anticipation as Temzi yanked out the tiny hooked pin and stuck the grenade at the base of the pillar in one smooth movement.

He flung himself backwards, ploughing into that pile of bodies he'd previously scaled, thankful for yet one more thing in his life – soft landings – no matter how grisly.

His vision exploded, then, into fireworks of red and shards of stone. Temzi covered his face with a gauntletted hand, thankful, once again, for the Lea Monde-crafted armour that was his livelihood. His face was shielded from the vast majority of the debris, but he still wound up with more than a few chips of stone slicing into his skin.

He felt his face gingerly. It was lucky, he supposed, that he didn't have looks like the Captain to be worrying about, or like the Lady Judge Selene, for if that were the case, he was certain that by now, he would have broken down or gone into shock.

As it was, he slumped backwards, blood slowly draining from his face from a dozen places. Even a mighty Dragoon of Lea Monde cannot stay conscious in the face of such bloodloss, but Temzi was certain that he would be alright. He had friends, after all. His faith shone out like a beacon – his crew would rescue him.

The last thing he was conscious of was his helm tumbling away and blood mingling with his hair. He tried to keep holding on to Whisper, but his strength finally failed him, and his consciousness went out like a candle.

~890 // #6

[Samchu]

Because it's too perfect an opportunity to pass up.

Lyra
~~~

Our bullets poured onto the enemy as they sought to take down the lone dragoon streaking across the battlefield. Death flew from all angles. We lost men, but so did they. We attacked them for so long that we could hear nothing else but a never-ending roar above the beat of our hearts in our ears.

Then came the explosion.

We were close enough to admire its destruction. The thunderous boom that errupted tore through the battle-sound, as chunks and pillar tore through air and Spiran alike. The defensive was left a moment to admre the achievement of the manouever but whatever that was escaped me. The dragoon had fallen, and I could not take my eyes away from him.

He has her hair...

There was only colour. The grey surface of which they stood was fading rapidly, devoured by the red snake that weaved between them. There was no end to its hunger. It would not suffice until it had consumed everything. Everything but the hair of which she had always been proud. Red on red...and the darkness that had caused it.

I was trembling. I took my gun in both hands until I could hold it steady. Then I ran.

To run out into an open battlefield was foolishness but to do it twice...I knew it was stupid and risky but I couldn't hold myself back from it. I had to get to him, had to pull him out of that field of death. Red...red...red...red...

He weighed more than I could carry - I knew just by lifting his arm. But I was resourceful and logic had become a slave to instinct. There was no time for thinking. I grabbed his helmet and returned it. A bullet grazed my hand. I shot a jet of fire in response but failed to see if it hit. I sunk low into the bed of bodies, hoping to hide myself from attackers as I worked.

I grabbed the dragoon's body and began rolling it towards me. As his side was about to drop, flipping him over, I slid beneath him. The man in the armour fell onto my back and I gasped for wind. I had never had to deal with such heavy armour before. I pulled his arms over my shoulders and began crawling across the ground. Bullets bounced off of his arm and started a ringing in my ears that wouldn't cease. Dust pillars exploded from the ground, leaving tiny bullet holes in their wake.

Poor fortune direct my travel. His weight was too much for me to alter my path by more than a few millimeters and I ended up further from my men that I would have liked. Fated also decide it wanted to play with me. I found myself with the moogle...and both Al Bhed girls.

There was a demon's glare in his eyes. She could see the bloodlust in his irises, and the spiral descent from bloodlust into maddness.

My training replaced the emotions of my past and the order came out before I could even think of what to say to them. "Get him off of me and prop him against a wall before we're both dead."


~~~~~~~~~~
#5
540 words

[Kurosakura]

~*Lisette Rosencrantz*~
Extremely Fatigued

Spirans. The Viera never really had much trust in anyone, except Selene and, but Spirans were a completely different story. She respected Temzi for his devotion and chivalrous nature and confided in Lyra once in a while, but for mostly everyone else, Spirans were scum. And she especially didn't appreciate having to rely on them in the midst of battle.

Lisette's mind was focused on only two things, protecting Selene and Sori. As soon as she and Sirius cut down the blessed few whom avoided the barrage of bullets shot by Selene, Sori sent down a well-aimed Thunder at the Flan encompassing that blasted pirate's body, nearly frying him in the process. She chuckled to herself, but barely dodged a stray bullet. Her attention returned to her most important mission: protecting her mistress.

She made quick work of the close combat soldiers within the Spiran army, the ones Selene and Sori didn't manage to pick off with bullets and magic, respectively. Her swift movements and precise swordplay left many incapacitated with one thrust, and those who weren't dead within one hit were met with a Swarmstrike, leaving them at the mercy of the venom that flooded their bodies. The Viera didn't particularly fancy working together with the two craven curs, Sirius and Adair, and have to rely on them, but she bore with them and, much to her dismay, covered for them as they did for her, although grudgingly.

The upcoming explosion caught her completely off-guard, and Lisette shrieked in pain; the sounds of of screaming men and bursting metal ringing through her sensitive, rabbit-like ears. Her hands gripped her long ears and her rapier fell onto the blood-stained ground with another resounding clatter, the vibrations piercing through her still-throbbing eardrums. Suddenly, she grabbed her rapier off the ground as a dead body blew toward her and jumped back a few paces, regrouping with the others, but not before sustaining minimal damage.

A surprisingly unscathed Spiran soldier unexpectedly killed one of her “comrades” and saved Sori, then she made her towards Selene. The Viera instinctively rushed toward her mistress' side and held up her rapier as the zapped pirate spoke up. “An' jus who the hell d'you think you are, missy?”

“I just happened to help take out an entire line of the offensive on your position, as well as a giant indestructible Machina headed for the castle,” the girl replied rather pompously, irking Lisette, since she made an undeniable point and helped them out immensely. The Spiran's sly smile aggravated her further as she added, “Oh, as well as a Spiran drop ship.” She then bowed in front of Selene and stated, “Judge Luna, I'm at your service.” The Viera noted her noticeable spiral pupils and frowned. “An Al Bhed?”

Lisette shot a glance at Selene and frowned once again. The whole situation was too good to be true. Why would a Spiran soldier defect to the opposite side?

“Who are you, soldier?” was Selene's immediate inquiry.

“Kaida Liena, former Lieutenant of Spiran invasion forces.” Emphasis on former.

“Yes... I can see that...”

“Oh! Right... Here...” the girl handed over a piece of parchment to her mistress, and the latter seemed to understand right away, but not before raising an eyebrow.

“Well... I'll put your mission down as a success.”

“Thanks!” This girl was way too happy for Lisette's tastes. She could act... more professional, couldn't she?

“Miss, how do you even know you can trust this woman?” the Viera cut in almost rudely.

“We trust them, don't we?”

“Correct, Miss, you do,” she responded coldly.

Selene and the new girl, Kaida, exchanged some more military information, and it was decided that the local idiot fly the armed ship and the Guado Dragoon perform a suicide mission and blow things up. The group went for cover, and Lisette looked on in horror as bullets ricocheted off his hefty armor. His lance was more than enough to plow through the last of the Guado mages, and Sori thankfully saved him from getting sniped. The explosive was thrown, and Temzi was thrown backwards as well from the blast, suffering from increasing blood loss, and eventually passed out.

Lyra was close enough to the Dragoon, managed to drag him back to the rest of the group, and started her idiotic banter. “Get him off of me and prop him against the wall before we're both dead.”

“You, pretty-boy or whatever, get Temzi off of Lyra.” Lisette glared at Sirius.

“I only take orders from my lady love!”

“SIRIUS, DO IT!” Selene roared.

“Yes, my love and soul!” he piped up and nearly crushed himself trying to hold up Temzi and his heavy Dragoon armor.

The Viera held up her rapier and a faint white glow surrounded Temzi and Lyra, healing some of their wounds. “Well this is convenient, I'm out of mana.”

~*831 Words/2 Posts*~

Rio didn't post yesterday, does this still count? XD

[Pichu Luver]

Adair Stroud

Telling a pilot to get an airship is like telling a child to get ice cream, full of giddy gleefulness. Adair was no exception to this profound rule of all exceptional pilots. He loved his bird and did all he could to return to her post haste. Now it may belong to Sirius but as any crewmen blessed to be on a ship with a truly grand pilot would tell you, the pilot owned it, not the one on the paper. Adair had the unfortunate luck to be rather fickle in his relations with his lady-birds (no partnership ever lasted to long, alas) but he loved them all and he would be all manner of pleased to return to his current ride.

Once more it was not to be.

He was running along at quite rapid a pace, avoiding the fights he didn't wish to partake in (chiefly all of them) and amazingly staying on his feet. It seemed that slide of doom had helped his balance. Or maybe he was merely blessed to be Lady Luck's beau for the day. Either way he made it to the area the Wolfstar was parked; in one piece and only minorly terrified on the way. He saw it, sitting there in all its splendid glory waiting for him to take her away and be the most winsome hero ever created.

Then... well then... Then... He... It... Well...

He found it prudent to leave the vicinity of the Wolfstar with speed and a great amount of utterly unmanly screeching.

No it wasn't a Moogle.

“THRICE DAMNED YEVONITE BASTARDS ENDOWED WITH AN DEFICIENT HYPELLO BRAIN; DISEASED WITH A PRODIGIOUS MEASURE OF 'I'M A FUCKING MORON , KILL ME NOW' SYNDROME!!!”

Adair stared at the massive violet obstruction in his path to the Wolfstar. Perhaps he should admire the audacity and skill required to transport the creature across the ocean, but he couldn't. It was an utterly moronic thing to do.

Honestly who thought bringing a mammoth, violet, horned, maned, clawed, stomping creature with the Gods power to smite any unworthy worshiper, was a good idea? Was his country incapable of thinking thoughts contrary to bigger was better, no matter the controllability of such a thing?

A thunder ripped through the air as the thing roared. Adair was so utterly terrified and shocked at the sheer improbability of what he was seeing that he still stared. It surveyed the area and looked in Adair's direction. Not at him precisely, but something behind him. It apparently decided it liked it and walked over.

'Walked' in the sense Adair's very bones rattled with the footfalls and he was finally, FINALLY shaken out of his reverie. He shrieked (there is no other sound to describe the noise that came out of his mouth) and tear-assed out of hells new address in the city of Arcadia. He ran with people fighting both sides of this battle, all mighty keen on getting the hell out of Dodge.

Then he felt the hairs on the back of his neck tingle. He skin felt like it was crawling with little bugs.

Blessed be Sori.

Adair dived into an alley-way and skittered on the loose debris there. He burst out the other side and looked over his shoulder to see a bright, yellow-tinted beam slam into the road way, utterly destroying it. If he hadn't been fried only ten minutes ago he wouldn't recall what electricity felt like before it decided on targeting you.

Then and there he decided he would never tell Sori he had saved his life, he already had to much Lordship over Adair's status.

Alas, his day was not getting better.

It was still following him.

It crashed right through a building to get to road on the other side.

Chicken jokes suddenly lost their humour.

It roared again and Adair squeaked. He felt the air start to charge again but he was out of convenient alley-ways. He looked over his shoulder in utter terror and watched as it powered up and . . .

. . . he tripped.

He never saw it, but his stumble caused him to flail like a chicken trying to fly, and careened him out of the way of the beam. It blasted a building wall and he flinched, closing his eyes. As all people in horror filled situations—while running full tilt—find needful to do.

His foot nicked a unidentified object.

He staggered out of the way of the next attack in his bid to remain moving (a hand swiping).

Thus continued his trek down the main thoroughfare. Tripping, cursing, stumbling, skidding, leaning, staggering in a manner akin to a drunken robber. He was quite unpredictable and if he wasn't so terrified he might even think himself skilled. Though with Adair any method to stay alive accomplished by himself he would label 'skilled.'

To his great relief another alley appeared and he slid to a stop. If he had been a car he would of drifted around the corner and sped away. The alley was blocked with collapsed building chunks but no matter, he leaped, grabbed the rung of a fire escape ladder, swung up and over the pile and landed with all grace on the other side.

He blinked, panting as he looked over his shoulder at the pile of rocks and other debris he had masterly got over.

“WHY is it that whenever I do something heroic there are no WITNESSES?”

Seeing as how he had just done something mighty he decided to take a break. Right there. With a monster stomping down the street beside him. He looked up wearily and thankfully it stomped past him, intent on some other item for destruction.

He slid down the wall, heaving air into his lungs as the adrenaline left him. All pirates were masters at running, but one could only sprint for so long. Human frailties and all (not that Adair had any, he was giving himself a congratulatory break for a stupendous leap of course).

Then it came to him... that monster he was taking a break from was headed in a suspiciously direct route for the square. Of course those teeny humans were proving aggravating when they attacked it, and it must of course deal with such nuisances but.... yes it really did seem to be heading there.

He groaned.

This whole 'conscience' thing was not very useful. He was tired! And running to save their asses (maybe) would entail getting in front of it again!

“You there!”

Adair looked over to see a Spiran guard, pointing something that probably could kill him, at his chest.

“Praise be to Yevon, the idiot with followers to this day by that big purple pancake-making machine over there.”

He frowned, “There are no Spirans in this city besides the army.”

Adair stood, “Listen you marauding moron, do I look Ivalician? Would any of these ridiculous religious recluses dress in such a manner? The possibility of me—DUCK!”

Adair dived, taking the man down with him as some sort of magical attack flew down the street and towards the monster. It roared and turned around, glaring balefully at whatever had fired it.

Adair, taking his moment, sprang up and skedaddled.

“Now no shooting me the next time you see me!” he called as he took off.

Adair, now that he was running once again, decided he might as well head to his crew and save their lives. Herd instinct, more options means less chance he gets taken out. That's what he told himself anyway, that these people might be starting to mean something to him was not something he would consider at the moment. Especially since he just found out he was a fortune teller.

He rounded a corner and came face to foot. A GINORMOUS purple foot. It smelled faintly of cinnamon and he did not pause to ask why but leaped over it, dodged around the other one and slipped into a narrow path between buildings. The monster THEN of course decided it wanted to eat him. He found out because a seriously distracting amount of noise came over his head and he looked up to see a paw coming down, taking out the walls in its bid to snatch him.

“MOTHER OF PURPLE PONIES!”

No it did not make a great deal of sense, but considering he was about to be grabbed, it was actually rather coherent.

He popped out of the collapsing path (a few dings to his frame) and ran some more. He was no longer sprinting as it was just not possible. He ran through some more streets, alleys and paths, hearing the monster continue its rampage behind him, but he also heard some explosions so maybe it was distracted for the moment.

The building two houses down then decided collapsing was the thing to do.

The behemoth had a thing against inconveniently placed stores apparently.

Adair skidded to a stop, fell on his ass, scrambled up and pelted back up the street. The square he had come from was only a street over and he had to get there, but mighty tall official looking buildings were in his way. He was cursing his luck as he couldn't find the alley he had come from, when repetitive earthquakes shook the ground.

He didn't look over his shoulder.

Blessed be Valefor for the tiny side route appeared and Adair pelted down it. The monster roared and he tried for one last sprint. It was not to be though as the creature decided to fire its de-structo beam of DOOM instead.

Adair, with no way to run, dived and flattened himself on the ground, praying to not become pyreflies (if that was even possible in Ivalice). In a strange plea for help, he cried out for help from perhaps the only person with resources to stop this thing.

“SEEEEEEEELLLLEEEEEEEEENE!”

He felt the air charge and a strange high pitched twang as the beam coursed from the creatures mouth. His entire body felt like it was twitchy and alive with bugs. He want to cringe but he couldn't get any closer to the ground then he was. Luck was with him though, the thing had aimed from too high and it shot out the other end of the alley instead, tearing up the street.

Adair, profusely thanking whatever Gods had decided his ass was worth not-frying too bad, sped out the side-route and into the street. It was dead quiet. He turned and saw the group of fighters all staring at him. He came to a dead stop, turned sharply on his heel and ran up to the first person he could recognize.

Being out of breath and scared out of his wits more times then he cared to think about that day, he was not exactly coherent.

Nor did he notice that for perhaps the first time in his life, over fifty people of both Ivalician and Spiran descent were hanging onto his every word.

“I—it—we. RUN. Please? Need, RUN. EVIL BARNEY. Steroids. Lasers. BIG. RUN please?”

“Wha...?”

The tank, being further out into the square, apparently could see what had been chasing Adair. It turned and fired.

The Behemoth roared.

In anger.

A brief moment of light and sizzling, and the tank was no longer there.

Adair looked over to the right and could see a mildly satisfied Behemoth, with a ding to its nose. He looked back to Selene, hoping for answer. He noted for the first time in his brief acquaintance with her she was deathly white, her mouth slightly open, her eyes wide.

In fact everyone looked in varying stages of petrified. Adair, having run from it the last fifteen minutes was slightly more used to the sheer terror he got from looking at it.

The monster then slammed the building, trying to get through.

Selene turned back to Adair, and perhaps gaining sense back from staring at his exhausted, tense, fear filled frame, gave a response.

“Run! DEFINATELY RUN!”

Adair was gone, shooting down a side street.

2043/22


Hello minions! Well not my minions but you get the meaning. Here is where you get to choose, follow Adair or follow Selene. Adair will be running down the streets, looking for any place to hide or somehow get the heck out of Arcadia. Selene will be taking the high road and climbing some buildings, before leaping roof to roof.

Your choice.

Oh, yeah. Adair's a coward but you CAN'T fight the Behemoth.

I'm talking to you Temzi.

Patter those feet peoples!

[ChobiChibi]

Shayna~

For a little while, Shay had noticed that the actions she was taking weren’t exactly the most useful. Instead of grouping together, she used the arrival of the new Al Bhed girl to slip off and get some very valuable time away from her sister. This wasn’t exactly the wisest course of action she could have taken. For instance, no matter where she seemed to go, something decided to blow up around her.

She had been trying desperately to avoid that tank... It meant that she spent a long time in conflicts with Spirans instead. The shout for “cover fire” was a little irrelevant to her; the enemy was far too close to her for her to be able to cover Temzi, since if she threw her weapons, she’d be pretty much defenceless, so decided to stop more people from being able to get into the area. Once the building fell on the tank, she did try to get to Temzi to help him, but on having seen Lyra, such disgust fell into the pit of her stomach that she decided against it.

But Temzi was hurt. The guy deserved a break, since she’d watched bullets pretty much bounce off him and becoming some kind of human shield... Not that he was hume... That was besides the point. Between beating up guards, various explosions and gunshots, she watched Lyra take him to safety.

Always the bloody hero... Shay thought bitterly, kicking someone in the head to knock them out.

All of a sudden, nobody seemed to be fighting anymore. People of both Ivalican and Spiran descent ran towards her, took no notice and ran straight past. Because she was vertically challenged, this sudden wall of people charging towards her didn’t help her to see what was going on, so therefore decided not to flee, but not to fight either. Choosing to stand still was also a bad idea; people jostled her and bumped into her (a few unfortunately bumping into the spikes of her giant pointy stars, gaining considerably large flesh wounds. She felt that if they were rude enough to bump into the blades, they deserved it), eventually causing her to trip and fall.

“Bollocks...” She mumbled, curling up into a ball to avoid being trampled on further.

On one of her glances to find a chance to get back on her feet, she noticed something: a vial a couple of inches away from someone that had died. Carefully, she crawled over, so to avoid someone standing on her fingers (although, someone tripped over her and landed face first onto the cobbles which highly amused her), and picked it up.

“Oooh! An ether!” She uncorked it, placing it to her lips. “... What am I doing that for? I don’t really use magic...”

Another caught her eye, a few feet away from the previous one. Placing the cork back in the vial and putting it in her bag, she hurried, still on her hands and knees, to the next vial.

“Oooh! A potion this time!”

Her keen eyes continued to spot more and more healing concoctions, she gathered as many as she could.

Ha! Take that, Lyra! Now I can help Temzi too! She thought, a childlike victorious feeling washing over her.

“I bring gifts!” Shay declared as she reached the others, just overhearing the giant bunny say that she was out of mana. She threw her an ether just as Adair came back.

She suppressed the need to ask where Adair had disappeared to when she saw what was behind him. A Behemoth stood a few streets away. Quietly, they watched a tank fire at it. It roared. Very loudly. A flash of light and the tank was gone.

Adair and Selene exchanged mutually terrified looks.

“Run! DEFINATELY RUN!”

With that, Adair was gone, taking off into the streets. Shay watched Lisette, Lyra and Kaida automatically swarm towards Selene, like a flock of overprotective lost sheep.

“Time to get up now, Temzi!” Shay hurried towards him, grabbing his hands and pulling in an attempt to encourage him to get up (for she knew he was far too heavy for her to lift). He was mumbling something she really couldn’t understand, but at least she knew he was maybe a little bit conscious thanks to Lisette. “Big, big monster coming to eat us! Bigger than dragon!”

No response. Quickly, she grabbed one of the potion bottles from her bag, tipped his head back and poured it down his throat the best that she could. His helmet made this more difficult than she imagined. Once it seemed to kick in, he stared up at her, looking exhausted.

“If you run now, I’ll give you more potions!”

787/13
Shay's gonna follow Adair. The Behemoth is more appealing to her than spending more time with Lyra, Lisette and Kaida XDD
Time to get up now, Temzi! <3

[Crystal Tears]

. : + Selene Solidor + : .
Potential Warning of mistakes due to my tiredness and unwillingness to read it over…

She had be previously cursing Adair in every language she could possibly think of on a whim. She had given him one simple task, a task that no one could possibly fail. No, not in her mind. All you had to do was run to the ship, get it, and come pick them up while destroying the tank. Selene had seen the controls of the Wolfstar, they were easy enough to understand. Hell the smaller turrets were automatic anyway. All the damn pilot would have to do is signify which group he was and the ship would handle it. Adair of course, had taken much longer than originally assumed to get the ship, all the while the Judge had watched the sheer number of Spirans begin to force their way forward, heavy armored tank in tow.

There was a point where she was nearly blow to bits as the tank fired on her position, Selene had spun out of the way of the attack to see the concrete and stone that had been providing her the greatest of cover vanish. She covered her eyes briefly as pebbles and debris went flying every which way. She was a Judge, a damn good Judge matter of fact. The princess had prided herself on having the strangest, and yet best of plans. Chief amongst them was sending the Dragoon to get the pillar.

It had worked, the pillar had fallen and taken out numerous soldiers, but the damn Guado had blown himself up in the act. Selene had only rolled her eyes, completely confident that the man would make it through.


Fast forward to the present, she was hiding again, waiting as the tank was seemingly distracted by a few Ivalician forces managing to break through to the square from another entrance. It was then in the chaos of the fight around her she realized just how hopeless this battle was. Adair Stroud was still not here, and her soldiers were falling like flies. There were only key moments where she saw the shining moments of her men, before they were blown away.

Literally.

“Selene…” Lyra began. “We need another plan; Adair is taking too long…”

Distantly they both thought they heard an explosion, Selene was torn whether she was hoping it was Adair who had just died, or him shooting something as he came to get them.

“Fight as if there is no air support on the way…” The judge replied.

“But the tank-“

“I don’t want to hear about the damn tank.” Selene winced as more cover was blown to smithereens. “It’s not a God nor is it an Esper, thus we can bring it down.”

“So what’s the plan?”

‘That is a good question…’ Selene thought to herself. “How’s Temzi?”

“I believe the pirate is giving him a potion, past that I’m unsure…”

Selene narrowed her eyes. “Do you remember our second mission together?”

Lyra nodded. “Almost the same circumstances, you order us to… Wait…”

The Judge smirked. “I have a plan.”


The Spirans definitely didn’t see this coming. In a few seconds the entire Ivalician force defending the square was upon them, charging into their ranks and killing soldiers. The tank turned its attention over to Selene, Lisette and Shayna, who were doing a fine job at defending each other. Selene took note of the machina and aimed. There was a thunderous bang from the cannon up top the metal contraption and then the gunner fired. The bullet burst into flames, zooming past soldiers as it took on the giant artillery shell.

3… 2… 1…

The shockwave and shrapnel tore through a group of Spirans. Selene smirked as she watched them fall to the ground, bleeding and dying. The tank could no longer fire on the majority of Ivalician forces as they were tied in heated melee struggles with the Spirans. The odds were now even for either side, or that was how Selene wanted it to stay until they got some sort of mechanical back up of their own.

Then came a faint cry that made her pause.

“SEEEEEEEELLLLEEEEEEEEENE!!”

She paused utterly confused on the faint sound.

“Did you hear…?”

She nodded. “Wasn’t that Adair?”

Selene scowled. “That better be his cry of victory from the god damn-“

There was a massive explosion down the street. Everyone fell silent, the war seemed to stop in the square, and Selene was left to stare at what was left of the connecting street.

Somehow, someway, the trusty ‘never seems to die (unfortunately)’ pilot barreled around the corner, churning up dust he was so anxious to get away. He slid to a stop in front of Selene, his eyes were wide with fear and his face was pale as he began to… Attempt to communicate or, she assumed that’s what he was trying to do.


“I—it—we. RUN. Please? Need, RUN. EVIL BARNEY. Steroids. Lasers. BIG. RUN please?”


“Wha...?”

She couldn’t help it, but all she thought about was why the pilot had returned without the ship.

Then the tank exploded, and Selene came to the realization this day couldn’t get any worse, of course, she was proven wrong as the monster suddenly began to take down a building in an attempt to get at them. Or really, Adair, who was sadly, standing next to her.

‘Shit… Um.. Plan… Tactics… Bombs? We have no bombs… Um… Run… Yes… RUN.’

“Run! DEFINATELY RUN!”

Selene took off, noting how the square was torn into a chaos of panic. She moved into an alleyway and scrambled up a ladder, skipping a few bars here and there before practically leaping onto the roof. She stumbled just a tad, and watched as Lisette appeared next, Sori holding tight onto her shoulder, Kaida was next with Lyra bringing up the rear.

“Orders Miss?” Lisette questioned, just as the creature looked over at them, opening its mouth and making the air around them turn to static.

“Orders haven’t changed.” She spoke as she bolted, using what was left of her dwindling mana to cast float on herself and the others. Her jump to the next building seemed superhuman, but the spell cut short for the landing.

Selene slammed hard into the ground and rolled. She recovered quickly, noting how only Lisette managed to land on her feet. Sori had flown over, and Kaida and Lyra had paid the price for the Judge being horrible short on mana.

The building they had been on then, abruptly exploded.

“This plan isn’t working…” Selene heard Kaida say.

“Don’t whine.” Lyra shot back.

“I’m not whining you mor-“

“Perhaps we should wait for Selene’s instructions-“

As the three guards bickered on just what to do (and which one of them was really in charge of the other two), Sori flew onto the princess’s shoulder. “Love you’re guardians.”

“Hm.” The woman replied, glancing back the arguing trio. “They’re wonderful, always so focused on the task.”

“So what is the plan?” The Mog asked curiously as they watched the Behemoth turn its attention to Adair in an alleyway.

“What do you mean I don’t have any skill!?”

“You blew them up.” Lyra shot a glare at Kaida. “Exactly how much talent does that take?”

“I destroyed an armored vehicle, airship, and several lines of troops! Exactly what have you done?”

“I have defended-“

“Do not imply you have come to the aid of Princess Selene, I have been at her side this entire time.”

“WHAT?” Lyra sounded particularly annoyed.

“You got some nerve I-“

“Guys.” Selene snarled, turning to face the three. “Shut. Up.”

All three of them fell silent, Kaida crossed her arms, Lisette moved away and Lyra just stared in a direction.

‘Venat…’ Selene thought, turning her attention back to the situation. ‘They’re like children…’

“Maybe we can get to the ship?”

Selene frowned, the ship was too far, and it was in the open. If that creature didn’t get them, the Spiran soldiers would. She couldn’t order the main ships to fire on the Behemoth at the risk of destroying all of Arcadia, and they didn’t have any vehicles…

Or…

“Kaida how many tanks did Spira bring?”

The girl thought to herself for a moment, counting on her fingers before replying: “About eleven I think… Last report had two down, and with the one in the square gone that leaves eight.”

“Where are they?”

“Scattered all over really… The closet one would be at the harbor…”

Selene bit her lip, mulling over the idea.

“That’s quite the distance…” Lisette noted.

“There’s tones of forces between us and there.” Lyra added on.

“Can you get us that tank?” The Judge looked at the Al Bhed curiously.

“Affirmative!”

“Then that’s our heading.” Selene looked out over the houses and buildings most were close enough that they could jump without needing float. They could avoid the creature for the most part and maybe some attention from the Spirans.

* * 1496 / 31 * *

Alright team, let’s go. Have fun encountering the Behemoth and random Spirans who notice us. It’s not going to be easy even finding a tank, let alone stealing one. Anyone else who wanted to be with Selene can come along; I just didn’t know who was definite.

[Weasel Overlord]

Temzi :: Dragoon of Justice
:: fading like a dead star ::

Blackness covered him like a veil. Sweet silence in the midst of battle that went deeper than just the muffle of his helmet. And then there was choking, and a liquid feeling engulfing his throat.

He gurgled, then swallowed. A potion, he determined, licking a droplet off his bottom lip. And an expensive one, by the taste. He blinked blearily up at Lady Shayna's head, which loomed over him like a beacon of hope in his bloodied vision. The promise of more potions spurred him into action – or at least, attempted action. His legs didn't quite work as they were supposed to.

He mildly regretted his haste in standing, as they buckled from the knee, but once again Lady Shayna was there for him, and she threw an arm about his shoulders, steadying him with her reassuring weight.

“Do you want another potion?” she asked, gently chivvying him into a walk.

“No, I can manage,” Temzi gasped. His head swam, but he managed to get a vague grip on his balance. “Perhaps just one sip?” he hazarded, inwardly wincing at the extent of the damage that such a small metal ball had done.

“Here,” she said, lifting a bottle to his lips. “You can have a whole one if you start running.”

“Lady Shayna, are you bribing me?” Temzi laughed – a choked sound that shocked him when it came from his lips. He swallowed the sip of potion gratefully, then spurred his body into more action. He could see that the situation wasn't ideal, even though his vision was doubled and blurred, like looking through a rippling pool. But even through rippling water, there was no mistaking a purple mass of that sheer vastness.

“Ah Kain,” he whispered, “say it's not a Behemoth...”

“It's a Behemoth,” Shayna whispered, wryly. “I guess we're sort of screwed.”

“I... I should go and distract it.” He coughed, slightly alarmed to see that his saliva wasn't the normal colour.

“Oh no you don't. We're running. Didn't you hear Selene?”

“Unconscious,” he said, stumbling along next to her as she followed Selene's orders. “I see no way out of this situation, Lady Shayna, and I am clearly slowing down the rest of the crew.” He attempted to gesticulate at the rest of the group, who were scattering like felled dominoes before the Behemoth's might, but the weight of his armour slowed his gesture to a minute wave of the hand.

Shay shoved another potion into his protesting mouth as a reply. “Stop being melodramatic,” she said, cheerfully. “A few more potions and you could even take on that Behemoth there,” she waved towards it. “Although don't,” she added hastily. “We're not going to lose any more crewmembers.”

“Ah Seta,” Temzi said, quietly. “I do miss him, you know, though he didn't speak much. I wonder...” he trailed off.

“What?”

“Never mind. Just something my mother used to say. It's not important. I do think those potions are having an effect though.”

“Here, have another one. We've almost caught up.” Shay stuck another bottle between his teeth and he swallowed it down gratefully. Looking around, he noted that they were in an alleyway, and that they who they were caught up with was Adair and Sirius. Who were performing some sort of manic terror dance as the Behemoth pounded towards them from one end of the narrow alley.

Temzi and Shayna slowed to a stop and Sirius grabbed hold of Temzi's armoured shoulders and shook him. “You took your time!” he yelled, panic removing all of his usual calmness. “Look! Behemoth! They're a kind of dragon, right? Do something, Dragoon-man!”

Temzi swayed backwards, his eyes crossing slightly at the close proximity of Sirius' shouting face. Shayna caught him – a firm hand on his back – and then glared at Sirius. “He's injured!” she snapped. “Don't be mean.”

“Well, the inflamed captain has a point, love.” Adair tottered over, inexplicably ignoring the large purple threat for the moment. “He is a Dragoon. They generally, urm... kill dragony buggers? Big purple barney over there looks like a dragon to me. Look,” he pointed wildly, “he's even got horns! Big dragony horns!” When Temzi just looked blankly back at him, he did a small jig of frustration. “Well,” he said. “dragons can only see moving things, right? MUSICAL STATUES!”

“We have no music,” Sirius pointed out.

“Shut up, you idea-stifler. We don't need music with old purple-face's tramp-tramping over there. It's sort of like a drum beat. Possibly.”

“But you have to stand still when the music stops,” Temzi muttered, exhausted.

“BESIDE THE POINT,” Adair yelled. “Why must you always stifle my creativity?”

“So you're suggesting that we just... stand still and hope it doesn't see us?” Shay piped up, doubtfully.

“Precisely what my Pilot is suggesting, dear Shayna.”

“I suppose it might work...”

“One problem,” Temzi coughed. Sirius, Adair and Shayna all turned to him, straining to hear his soft words over the top of the thundering Behemoth sounds. “It's right there.” He pointed a shaky finger at the purple mass, which was rapidly filling the empty space of the alleyway. The sky was completely blotted out.

“I wondered why it was so dark in here,” Sirius said, breaking into a run. The Behemoth roared a challenge and stomped down the alleyway, and the rest of the gathered needed no more urging to follow hot on Sirius' heels.

~ 959 // #7

[VirtualPlay]

Kaida Liena - Al Bhed Gunner
Fleeing from the Behemoth
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Running was not something I usually did, but when ordered to do something by a superior, I listen. A small group of people chose to follow the renegade, Adair, but given the choice between him and Judge Luna, it was fairly obvious which direction I was going.

Our group ran through the town that was quickly being destroyed. Of course, the Behemoth wasn't helping with that…or rather, he was helping by destroying the town further. It seemed that idiot Adair had gotten the Behemoth stuck on our trail instead of his. Selene quickly climbed up a building and we all followed, practically falling over the edge to the roof.

"Orders, miss?" the Viera called Lisette asked, and despite her constant edginess towards me, it was good that we could at least agree on one thing. I was distracted from my thoughts for a moment as the air around seemed to fill with a static charge. We all turned to see the Behemoth staring us down, charging up some kind of attack.

"Orders haven't changed," Judge Luna said simply, before running to the edge of the building that was farther away from the Behemoth. We all followed, and I felt a lightening feeling as we reached the edge. She jumped to the next building, and we followed, the floating spell keeping us aloft long enough to reach the next roof. Unfortunately it was obvious Judge Lune had been busy in the fight as her spell dissipated suddenly, leaving us suddenly plummeting the remaining distance to the roof.

I landed hard and my knee rubbed harshly on the roof. Blood leaked out slightly, but I ignored it for now; it wasn't a gash so I wasn't about to bleed to death. All of a sudden the building we had just left blew up. There was nothing but distance left between us and the Behemoth. "This plan isn't working…" I muttered, more to myself than anything.

Unfortunately the other Human, Lyra, decided to express her obvious loathing for me, and after a time Lisette joined in on the argument. It got so bad that Judge Luna had to interrupt us. I turned away from the other two that had picked the fight in the first place, crossing my arms in annoyance. Judge Luna went back to talking with the Moogle I had saved earlier, and I didn't pay attention until…

"Kaida, how many tanks did Spira bring?" she suddenly asked.

I thought a moment, counting the tanks I had seen on my fingers. "About eleven, I think…last report had two down, and with the one in the square gone that leaves eight."

"Where are they?" she asked, and I started to realize what she had in mind.

"Scattered all over, really…" I said, thinking about where we were. "The closest would be at the harbor…"

"That's quite the distance…" Lyra said, realizing the plan.

"There's tons of forces between us and there," Lisette added, understanding as well.

"Can you get us that tank?" Judge Luna asked me.

I nodded, a grin on my face as I said, "Affirmative!"

"Then that's our heading," she said, looking towards the location of the harbor. With the Behemoth thankfully distracted by someone else (hopefully Adair), we started hopping the roofs towards where I hoped the tank still was.

After a couple of jumped roofs, we suddenly got interrupted by a couple of gunshots, taking out a couple tiles from the roof we were on. I was already at the edge and had no choice but to jump. Everyone else managed to stop and duck to the other side of the slanted roof. From what I could see, Lisette moved flawlessly, but Lyra and Judge Luna slid a bit; I think one of them almost fell off.

As I landed on the next roof, I heard a call from below, "Dryhg kuuthacc fa vuiht oui, Secc Liena! Fa'mm kad druca Ivalician suhcdanc dryd ryja paah lrycehk oui!" Cautiously I looked down to see four Al Bhed warriors lining up to climb the roof. They threw a grappling line up and caught it on the top edge, then started climbing.

Quickly I rolled over to the other side of my roof so I could see the others better. Lyra and Lisette were shooting me death glares, and Judge Luna was staring at me curiously and slightly afraid. I looked at them, smiled a small grin, then pulled out one of my guns and carefully aimed before firing.

The hook blew off of its grip, and there was the comedic sound of all the soldiers sliding off the other side of the roof. I jumped back to the other side and saw that a couple had ended up getting speared by the swords of the others. One was already limp from death, and the others were at least stunned. I slid down my roof, landed on the ground, then before they could react I ran up to them and put a bullet through each of the remaining warriors' heads.

By the time everyone else had gotten to the top of the roof again, I had already claimed a few rounds for my guns and was climbing back up to the roof they were all on. "Let's try to reach that tank again, shall we?" I said, before jumping back to the other roof.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

We found out surprisingly soon that the tank wasn't, in fact, in the harbor. This was because we all heard a large shot rang out nearby. We stopped and turned to see the tank slowly moving towards the Behemoth, and its shot ended up sailing high over the Behemoth to explode on the other side.

"Well, we found the tank," Lyra said, then snidely added, "now what, Kaida?" She practically sneered my name, and it kept everything I had not to start another fight.

"Now…" I started, giving Judge Luna a small grin and a wink that nobody else could see before walking over to Lyra, "…I do this." And with that I gave her a sound slap across her face.

Immediately I ran down the side of the roof, flipped over the edge, and started running as soon as I landed. Sure enough, their reaction was to chase after me blindly, infuriated that I'd do such a thing. 'Better that it looked natural, anyway,' I thought to myself as I pulled out from around a building, waving my arms frantically at the tank. Just as I expected, everyone else pulled out from behind the building without realizing where we were, then quickly ducked back into the alley as soon as they saw the tank.

The tank stopped and the hatch opened. A hand motioned inside, and I quickly scaled the tank before dropping in, closing the hatch as I dropped between the two gunners. There was more talk about saving me from the Ivalicians, but I didn't really listen. I just made it look like I was exhausted and relieved, as I quickly scanned the angles of the four operators.

As I told the pilots to continue and ignore the Ivalicians for now, I sidled up to where the gunners were seated. There was only going to be one attempt at this. I quickly slid out my guns and whipped the two gunners flat across the head with them, then dropped back to the pilots' level. As I had expected, they had spun to see what happened, and I quickly blew their faces in, splattering the windshields with blood. Luckily they were bulletproof glass, but it did make quite a mess.

I dragged the pilots' bodies out of their seats, stopped the tank, then went up and opened the hatch door. "The tank has been acquired!" I shouted out to the others. One of the gunners groaned, and I hit him on the head again so he stopped moving. Hopefully the others would at least be willing to help me remove the bodies…

-=-=-=-=- 1330 / 03 -=-=-=-=-

[classy_cat18]

Niosa Tiera – Al Bhed Gunner
Not feeling the love

I hadn’t had enough interaction with Lyra before to get a good opinion of her, mostly because we were too busy with other matters. My matter being surviving and hers being surviving and Selene. But while she was hauling the heavy Temzi over to us, her eyes locked onto mine for just a moment.

I didn’t like what I saw in those eyes, even though I had rarely seen it in my life. It was the look that older Spirans would give me when I went anywhere outside of New Home.

Even after three hundred years to redeem ourselves, we were looked upon with prejudice.

“Al Bhed belong with Al Bhed and machina. Nothing else.”

“Nii!” someone’s voice rang, shattering my reverie.

I shook my head and attempted to smile, probably only succeeding in a grimace. “Nii is fine,” I said wearily. “Nii just needs rest.”

At first I thought it was Selene that had shouted out to me, but my mind wasn’t entirely back to the present yet. But a metallic hand shook my collar and I looked up at Kumas. “Nii!” he shouted again, his robotic voice now clearer.

It was him? No, I must be imagining things.

Everyone was starting to run away from the area, split into two groups. Confused as to the cause of panic, I scanned the area and quickly found it.

I swallowed heavily. How could such a beast stay out of my radar? And why didn’t anyone make a plausible effort to warn me?

Seeing that Lyra was following Selene without hesitation, I followed Shay to catch up with Adair and Sirius. The only reason that she hadn’t disappeared from my sight yet was because she was helping along Temzi. But my vision kept getting fuzzy and I didn’t know why. My memory of the last few minutes of the battle was also fuzzy. Probably took a nasty blow to the head.

Then it happened. I lost sight of them. My feet almost tripped over each other as I slowed to a stop. “Where did they go?” I asked myself. I leaned on Kumas as everything went cloudy.

And black, for a moment.

Vena fell from my hands and clattered on the ground. “Kumas… get Nii’s gun. Nii can barely run.” As the machina bent over and picked up the weapon, I climbed on his back. “Kumas, can you identify Sirius without Nii’s help?”

“Sirius. Captain…of…Wolfstar,” Kumas replied. The way he spoke made me doubt I heard his voice earlier.

“Good. Try to find him, and avoid that Behemoth in the process.” I clung to him as he started to walk, then slowly sped to a jog.

I couldn’t tell where everything or anyone was, but my ears were just fine. The roar of the monster as we got closer was unmistakable. Kumas had managed to go around the buildings and the alleyway where Sirius and his group were hiding, so now we were running towards them as they were running away from the Behemoth.

“My dear Kumas, I didn’t know that you offered piggyback rides!” Sirius exclaimed as Kumas turned and ran beside him. “But I believe the dear girl could be a little more comfortable on her own two feet.”

“Crid ib…” I groaned at him in Al Bhed, my vision so fuzzy that I couldn’t tell if I was talking to Sirius or Adair.

“Are you feeling okay?” He waved a hand over my face.

“E tuh'd ghuf…” I was too tired to try Hume or the third person. My vision blacked out again, and my grip on Kumas started to loosen…

612 words. 18 Nii posts.

[Samchu]

Lyra
~~~~

My face throbbed with the sting of Kaida's hand. I rotated my jaw, trying to ease the sensation that part of my face had solidify. My fingers went for the hilt of my sword, their tips pressing the necessary button as I pulled it from my sheath. I glanced across at Lisette, who liked as though she wasn't sure whether to laugh or be shocked. "And you wondered," I growled, pointing the newly formed gun at the fleeing Kaida, "why I dislike Al Bheds."

Selene placed a hand on my gun. "I think this one would be better dealt with in person."

"It would seem Lady Selene knows of a plot of which we are not aware."

“Perhaps…” she had that mischievious tone that always drove me crazy.

She knows something I don’t. Gods damn this game that she plays! I watched Kaida disappear with a grunt. "Very well."

We gave chase, dropping from the rooftop and continuing our pursuit on the ground. I imagined getting my hands on Kaida and blowing her brains out. I killed the last Al Bhed that laid a hand on me. He screamed for over an hour; I won't give her the chance.

"You know," Selene said, as we neared a corner, "you're not allowed to kill her."

I tried to hide my irritation but I could sense that I failed. "I expect you have a good reason for this decision?"

Selene grinned. "Because it's funny."

We pulled round the corner and there stood the tank. We skidded to a halt and ducked back behind the building, peeking just in time to see Kaida jump into the safety of the tank.

"It would appear that Kaida has betrayed us."

Selene had that glint her eye that meant a plan was coming together. I’d seen it too many times not to recognise it. "Don't be so sure..."

Gunshots echoed across the air. We waited, anxious, until the hatch opened and the former spy poked up her head and shouted, "The tank has been acquired!"

Selene led us over to the vehicle. By the time we arrived, Kaida was hoisting a body out through the hatch. She dropped the disfigured body to the ground.

"A little help?"

We climbed up. Selene jumped inside to look over the controls, Lisette went to help with the bodies.

I glared at Kaida. "I should leave your corpse with those of your fallen comrads."

"You're just annoyed because I had to embarass you for my plan to work."

I put my blade to her throat. "Selene's orders protect you this time but if you every lay a hand on me again I swear to the Gods that I will personally cut off that arrogant little face of yours, shove one of your precious bombs down your throat, and watch your body get torn to pieces."

She just smirked. "So which part of me bothers you most? The fact that I'm Al Bhed? That I was spy?" She leaned a little closer. "Or is that I'm already closer to Selene than you are?"

I took a step towards the hatch. "Honestly? It's all of them." I dropped down and started to help Lisette remove the soldiers' bodies.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
#6 / 538

[Kurosakura]

~*Lisette Rosencrantz*~
Back and forth banter is fun...

Lisette cursed under her breath as almost everything around her blew up into smithereens. Such a nice, simple easy task turned into something along the lines of bracing themselves and ducking for cover. She downed the Ether that... Spiran Ninja tossed her in one gulp. Although she was a little suspicious, the Viera squashed those feelings, she had to place some faith in her Spiran... comrades(?) for the time being. She felt some of her magical energy return and breathed a small sigh, only to flinch as a bullet whizzed by her ear.

How long did the local idiot need to get a ship, anyway? A sentiment shared by Lyra as the explosions ensued. Adair ran to Selene screaming, and Lisette mentally facepalmed. Surely he could be more... mature about this ordeal? The only logical course of action was to run of course, and Lisette lifted Sori up and put him on her shoulder as he clung on tightly. “Orders, Miss?” she asked her mistress and the cringed as the monster inhaled.

“Orders haven't changed,” was her response, and she casted Float briefly, however the spell ended abruptly and it seemed she was the only one with a smooth landing, save for Sori who flew.

After a rather lengthy squabble, Lisette was relieved that Selene ended the argument, but a new problem arose: how were they supposed to get to the tank at the harbor safely? The discombobulated party jumped a few more roofs, with a few mishaps from the Humes due to the angular roofs. On the latest roof, a foreign shouting was heard and the only thing she could make out of the brief sentence was Liena, Kaida's surname, which didn't settle with her at all. Lisette glared daggers at the half-breed, absolutely miffed and trusting her less than she already had, if that was possible. Fortunately, Lisette thought wrong, and Kaida not only knocked them off the building, but shot all four offenders in the head, effectively killing all of them.

Soon enough, the tank that was supposedly in the harbor was, in fact, shooting at the Behemoth? She chuckled a bit as soon as Lyra looked away, seeing the new girl hit her old rival across the face. Maybe she wasn't so bad after all. Kaida left to commandeer the tank, and after a while, the hatch opened and her head popped up from the opening yelling, “The tank has been acquired!” The Viera had to admit, this Hume was quite useful, half-breed or not.

...although dragging bodies out of a vehicle was never a fun thing to do. The stench of bodily fluids was at least one thousand times stronger, due to her overly sensitive nose. Lisette eavesdropped on Lyra's spat with Kaida and chuckled when she came back up to help haul out the bodies. “Well, well, Captain. I've never seen you get so riled up before. What happened to being that Iron Maiden everyone feared so much?”

“Shut up and grab his legs,” Lyra grumbled as she began to shove the the man's body out of the hatch.

Lisette grabbed the corpse's ankles and dropped him onto the ground, where the rest of the other bodies were beginning to pile up. “Lyra, I'm rather disappointed in you. I would've expected you to keep your demeanor, half-breed or not,” she continued coolly, dropping the formalities.

“I told you to shut up, now do as I say.”

“Or what? You'll report me for insubordination?” she smirked.

"Even better, I'll shove that precious little rapier of yours up your backside."

“You may do as you please, but you would be stripped of your ranking, discharged from the army, and executed within moments.”

“At least I wouldn't have a sword up my ass-crack.”

“At least I would have my life intact.”

“If you can call what you have a life...”

“As if you're not in the same situation I am?”

“Oh? Last I checked I was a captain in the Ivalician military and you were still running around after Selene playing soldier.”

“Last I checked, I never sold out my country to the enemy.”

“No, that would be considered an intelligent move, and you're clearly lacking in that department.”

“Intelligent as in in pig-headed stupid and incurring the distrust and loathing from all around the world?”

“Well, if that's how Viera are perceived...”

“It might be nice if my two oh-so-loyal and attentive guards would shut the hell up and get inside the tank before I rip their heads off.”

“...damn.”

“As you wish.”

~*778 Words/3 Posts*~

Effing internet. *kills*

[Crystal Tears]

. : ♥ Selene Solidor ♥ : .

The bodies were quickly removed and the gang slipped into the tank. Selene gazed at the controls in front of her with mild curiosity. Ivalician machines and Spiran machine were not so different, though obviously the princess preferred her own continent’s technology over the enemy’s. There was a rather attractive simplicity to the tank’s dashboard and flashing lights that made Selene almost wish Ivalician’s would design their own machines this way.

Almost thought, as obviously no self-respecting Judge and Princess of Ivalice would ever admit Spira had designed something better than her homeland. Gently she grasped the controls, and the machina seemed to sense someone was taking control. A crude display screen appeared which made her frown.

“Impressive.” She murmured sarcastically, pushing both handles forward.

The tank groaned, and slowly began to move forward. Speed was something to be desired apparently, as it seemed to take the contraption a good few minutes to get going at a somewhat decent pace.

“Where are we going?” Sori questioned, trying to make heads or tails of the radar. “Man this crap is old.”

“We’re going to find Adair.” Selene answered, which made Lisette and Lyra look over questioningly.

“We... What?”

“Miss I don’t believe saving the criminal is a wise course of action.”

Selene frowned, honestly she couldn’t really believe the words had come out of her mouth, but the pilot was worth keeping around. He was going to fly them back to the other continent and help her find the pieces of some damn doom thing. Honestly unless any of them knew of a better pilot then the drunken moron with a behemoth on his tail, he was their only option.

And she would prefer if he were alive when it came to the piloting bit.

“That’s amazing…” Selene glanced over her shoulder at the two. “You guys can agree on something?”

“Hey uh, Selene?” Sori tapped the radar screen. “There are dots on this thing now. Some red, some green.”

“Green is the Spiran army.” Kaida informed them. “I would switch it over, but all the machina have a fail-safe, if we make the Spirans the target instead of the Ivalicians, this tank will be red flagged.”

“Joy.” Selene grumbled, gently pulling one of the levers back so the tank turned with a groan. “Lyra.”

“Yes?”

“You’ve got the cannon.”

There was a brief moment of happiness that seemed to shine on the girl’s face before she rushed towards the cannon controls. A loud rumble came as it turned active, rising a bit out of the outer hull and the tube of the gun itself growing a foot or two.

The tank rounded another corner, and everyone jolted as Selene abruptly stopped the tank. The Ivalicians were already dealing with one tank; it was about the size of this one, though it had a dual barrel and looked a bit fiercer. Selene gritted her teeth, and watched as the Spirans seemed to cheer and motion her forward.

“Lyra…”

“Locked and loaded.”

“Kaida where do we need to hit that thing?”

She frowned, looking at the display before slamming it as the picture fizzled in and out. “Um… Honestly I don’t know; it’s named Adamantoise for a reason.”

Selene gave her a strange look before Lyra spoke up.

“Giant armored turtle.”

“Oh…” Selene slammed the controls forward and the tank began to move again. “Alright then, plan B.”

“Miss?” Her Viera companion seemed a little concerned when the princess gave the driver’s seat to Kaida. “What is ‘plan B’?”

“Selene!” Sori cried. “What the hell are you opening the hatch for!?”

“Sori look through the boxes in there and find me an ether!”

“A… Why?!”

“Just do it!”

Selene cautiously peered over the rim of the hatch; the turtle tank was even more intimidating now that she had a clear image of it. It was sitting in the middle of the road, having just come over the hill before stopping and giving support to its little soldier friends. The judge gritted her teeth, this plan, even with an ether, wasn’t guaranteed to work. If that thing saw her and recognized her as the enemy, they would maybe be able to take one, maybe two blasts before they were gone.

“Found one!” Sori’s cry came, as he fluttered over to the hatch as she ducked in, taking the half empty bottle with a frown. Selene gave him a look. “What? No, I didn’t drink the other half, I found it like that!”

“…”

“Seriously!”

She rolled her eyes and chugged down the rest, noting how the Spiran ethers tasted distantly of a mix of strawberry and banana.

‘Odd.’

“Alright...” She clambered out, holding onto the hull and keeping low as bullets and magic shot back and forth from either side. “Kaida put us between the Ivalicians and the tank!”

The tank swiveled harshly, causing Selene to lose footing for just a moment. She held herself over the treads, looking down in surprise to see the belly of the mechanical beast roll right over a mound of bodies. Grinding her teeth together the woman hauled herself up, still managing to keep out of sight from the Spiran armada.

“AIM!”

The barrel of the tank began to turn, and the Spirans seemed to falter as it slowly turned to aim at the Adamantoise. Selene concentrated, outstretching her hand slightly. It was remarkably heavy the tank, her mind just now beginning to realize just got tough these things were built. The mana sparked from the usage, making her eyes glow and blue wisps emanated from her arms. Her mind began to ache, struggling against gravity and the weight.

As their tank’s barrel locked into place, the enemy’s was beginning to turn and glow.

“Selene…” She heard the nervousness in Sori’s voice.

“I know…”

“Come on…”

“Sori…” The Judge groaned, sweat rolling down her skin.

“Any time now…”

‘For the love of Venat…’ She growled in her skull, watching the enemy vehicle begin to shake. ‘Just… Float.
’
The tank roared off the ground, hovering clumsily in the air. The Spiran soldiers looked at it wide-eyed, taking steps away from it as it wobbled and tried to touch the ground again.

“Fire!” Selene cried. “Lyra fire!”

There was another strange moment of hesitate before their cannon let out a deafening boom, the blast slammed into the Adamantoise and sent it spiraling through the air, off the hill and down towards the bottom of the road. There were cheers from the Ivalicians who were moving up, and Selene watched with a certain satisfaction as the enemy tank bounced, rolled and groaned to a crumpled stop at the bottom of the hill.

She slipped back down into the vehicle and slumped against the back wall.

“So…” She looked at Lisette with a smirk. “What did you think of plan B?”

“Most effective Miss, if not a tad bit rash.”

“Plan B is always rash.” Selene countered, noting how she would probably do anything for an aspirin at the moment. “You should see some of the plan C’s we’ve head.”

“Very rash.” Lyra threw in from the side.

“Fun though.”

“That is also true.”

“Uh… Commander…” Kaida’s shaky voice got Selene to her feet and back to the front. “I think I found Adair…”

The buildings in the small viewer were demolished as a giant purple beast stomped through, just in front was a group of very familiar soldiers trying to keep themselves alive. Adair notably, was at the front, leading the way with crazy dodging antics and what looked like a strange form of dance.

“Shit…” The gunner murmured under her breath. “Kaida prepare to run, Lyra fire on the Behemoth.”

“Miss that will attract the beast’s attention towards us.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“I don’t like this plan…” Kaida remarked nervously.

“Lyra.”

“There’s too much smoke, I can’t get a clear shot.”

Selene frowned; she pivoted on her heel and walked up to the gunner’s seat. Promptly she replaced her guardian and took aim herself, taking only a few seconds to adjust to the foreign controls. Biting her lip, she aimed, and fired.

There was boom, an explosive, and a howl of rage that she would never forget.

* * *

The Behemoth turned its attention from the people it had been chasing, its crazed eye focusing on the mechanical abomination sitting on the top of the hill. Its left eye was useless now, blood and pyreflies pouring from the wound. It snorted, taking a quick glance back at the strange dancing human before turning, and stomping towards the tank that was already pulling away.

* * 1447 / 32 * *

[Pichu Luver]

Adair Stroud

“Hello girly.” Adair quickly grabbed Nii before she collapsed and did anymore damage to herself. Her robot buzzed angrily (or so Adair assumed, safer to presume irritation then relaxation when it came to bucket-headed-malfunctioning-gun-toting-mechanics). Normally he'd be out front of the running crew but he'd done a lot of running today and was not feeling up to his usual stellar running self. It really had nothing to do with two women in front of him. He really was tired and wasn't quite sure where danger was going to come from. So a nice view is a good way to go... no?

Anyway Nii decided she'd had enough of a free ride and promptly fell off. Adair, in a rather stupid maneuver, decided to catch her. The fact that it was the honorable thing to do did not stop his legs from flailing like a dog on ice. His endeavors to remain upright and running however, were successful.

“And if I swoon will you catch me?” Sirius asked, grinning.

“No. As my hands are currently full.”

Adair was also likely to fall over within two seconds. So he stopped and Kumas promptly snatched Nii out of his arms. There was a great deal of gear grinding muttering. Adair was miffed his manly heroics were dismissed so easily. He had a brief moment of Sirius like irritation before dismissing it. To much caring involved seriously overblown pain, and torture, and lasers, and guns, and PAIN and... oh right life and death situation here.

Well not currently, but looming somewhere was a drug induced nightmare of a violet shaded beast made up of sparkly spheres. Rather sadistic Spiran thing that, beautiful sparkles become rampaging moronic pieces of destruction and DEATH. Honestly. What God thought that piece of irony up?

Moving on Nii was moaning (slightly out-played by the grumbles of a purple violent confection) and Adair really didn't want her to start crying (moaning always leads to crying, Adair has much experience in this). So he reached into his bag of tricks (avoiding the spoon flung out by Mog) and pulled out the ever present rum. This was a special concoction of Adair's though... had a potion in it to avoid all hangover effects. Made one slightly ecstatic and everything was a tad more vividly coloured. But it was all he had.

“Adair says to open wide, he has medicine.” He shook the bottle and Nii blearily opened an eye.

“Of a sort.” smirked Shay.

“You doubt me? Alas you may have reason but this in infused with the spirit of life.”

“While rum can make one loose their inhibitions I don't see how—”

“Temzi, I am a life long drinker. There are many thing you can do to rum.”

“Alas, running in a straight line doesn't seem to be one of them.” Sirius mused, “Though that might be a boon right now.”

Nii just looked doubtful and Kumas... statue-y.

Adair rolled his eyes, and noticed the grumblings of a terrifying burgundy beasty were growing near. “Honestly, there's a potion in it. Hangovers are just not in vogue right now.”

Nii weakly reached for it and Kumas snatched it from Adair. It gently tipped it up to her lips. She drank slowly, then with increasing vigour as her headache eased.

“Side effects are giddiness and vivid colours so,” Adair handed her his sunglasses, “You might need these. Moving out!”

Adair was pleasantly surprised they all moved when he said 'move out', he thought that only happened in Sphere's. He was out in front again, now knowing the deep lilac lunatic was behind him he did not want to be in the back. No matter the view.

They sped along, dodging this attack and that attack. Joining with either army who were also running their asses off. There seemed to be an embargo on shooting at people tear-assing away from all engagements with any enemy. Or perhaps they were moving so fast it was just too much bother... Either way Adair, while tired, was moderately pleased his direction of travel had remained in the more or less direction of the secondary airport of Archadia. And if that was the country and not the city name Adair couldn't give a rodents fur-less tail right now. He wanted something that flew. Preferably Spiran as they just made more SENSE then Ivalician shi—er weaponry.

Then OF COURSE the THING FROM BEYOND the ocean, decided to make an appearance. Or a very violent magic trick that made a building disappear in front of them. Replaced by a falling fushian fiend.

“Guess he tripped!” shouted Shay, utterly terrified, so obvious things must then come forth from her mouth.

“The building was inconvenient!” Sirius replied, and Adair skidded around a corner, his 'followers' deciding this was a ok deviation.

“Where are we going?”

“The airport!” replied both Sirius and Adair.

“Nii would note it's behind us!” said the Al Bhed, sounding much more healthy.

“The other one!” they said simultaneously. Then looked at each other surprised at their unintended, though highly useful, impromptu agreement.

Agreement meant nothing however when the monster would-be mobster decided their little group was good for chow down. Adair then really put the motor on and ran in, well not a straight line, but it kept him alive and was getting him to his destination. Mostly.

Then, glory, glee, golly-gee giddyness with a side of God damn goodness, some idiot shot at the Behemoth.

It roared its rigorous refusal to be refuted in its righteous wrath and decided tank was terrifically tasty.

Adair grinned as it turned away from his group (yes it was his group, he was leading this madness wasn't he?). They were only a few blocks from the other airport now and without a grape-tainted terror on their tail, they could get there.

There were of course many heroic leaps, bounds and flights of fanciful aerobatics. No one wanted to fight, everyone (more or less not including Temzi) wanted to get into a bird and fly away from this madness as soon as they could. Well Adair chose to believe that anyway. He would decide if Selene and her cronies would be saved when he was in flight. Her bodyguards seemed to have taken an irrational dislike. He couldn't understand why. He was a pirate, not a kidnapping fiend wrapped in a decidedly handsome hide(though he was a handsome hide). Really, Sirius had claim, didn't they know what that meant? Perhaps Selene hadn't told them yet...

“Ah ha! We are in good stead! There's a Spiran bird ahead!” In front of the group was a Spiran drop ship. Not the most beautiful of ships, but serviceable and reliable. It was empty and no one was currently busy with it as it had unloaded everything of note, and waiting for the items/soldiers to come back should they have need to retreat. There might be pilots aboard but that wouldn't be a problem.

“Spiran?” asked Sirius. “But aren't they—“

“I may note you are in the company of three Spirans and one seriously confused Guado. It would be wise not to impune the good aircraft in front of their native fliers.”

“—Er. Behind the times?”

“Behind perhaps, but not NEARLY so infuriatingly confusing to my good mind.”

“Damaged mind maybe.”

Adair shot Shay a look but said nothing. She was a thief-ninja and a most deadly combination. Evil little tricksters when they wanted to be. Wise to say little, and all of it pleasing.

“Aboard! And someone should do something about the pilots. I need to fly this thing, not play hide and kill.”

1291/23

[classy_cat18]

Sori – Moogle Time Mage

I really thought we were turning into pirates ourselves. I mean, our plan seemed to benefit ourselves more than anyone else. We stole – or commandeered as pirates say – a tank. And now we were looking for our fellow pirates, something that really surprised me.

What? Sure, we needed Sirius and Adair…

Actually, we needed the Wolfstar more…

Wait, couldn’t we have just gotten a new airship and crew? Less headaches for all of us.

Better not tell Selene that. She might throw me to the Behemoth.

While the judge was fiddling with the tank controls, I perched near a beeping, blinking thing. I didn’t want to tell anyone that I knew jack crap about this machinery, especially since most Ivalicians assumed Moogles were experts of it. “Where are we going?” I asked her. “Man this crap is old.”

“We’re going to find Adair.” she answered, granting questionable glances from Lisette and Lyra.

It took me a moment for that to fully register in my brain. I didn’t think that she would be so sure about that. Apparently, Lisette was thinking the same thing. “We... What?”

“Miss I don’t believe saving the criminal is a wise course of action,” Lyra agreed.

“That’s amazing…” Selene glanced over her shoulder at the two. “You guys can agree on something?”

I snickered and went back to the beeping, blinking screen. Now it had dots on it. “Hey uh, Selene?” I called out to her. “There are dots on this thing now. Some red, some green.”

“Green is the Spiran army.” Kaida explained to me. “I would switch it over, but all the machina have a fail-safe, if we make the Spirans the target instead of the Ivalicians, this tank will be red flagged.”

Meaning this tank and us will be filled with holes in no time. I groaned and studied the dots, making sure that no one tried to gang up on us.

Selene grumbled in sarcasm, and then assigned Lyra to the cannon. The soldier looked happy to be able to handle the weapons.

The tank rolled down the street and through any obstacles in the way. It was a good plan; why act like ninjas when we can just plow through everything? The problem was how to deal with the Behemoth.

And the bigger tank that wasn’t on our side.

“Lyra…”

“Locked and loaded.”

“Kaida, where do we need to hit that thing?”

“Um… Honestly I don’t know; it’s named Adamantoise for a reason.”

“Giant armored turtle,” Lyra clarified.

“Oh…alright then, plan B.”

Okay, she never mentioned a plan B. I looked up and saw Selene doing a very risky (and stupid) move.

“Selene!” I shouted. “What the hell are you opening the hatch for!?”

“Sori look through the boxes in there and find me an ether!”

“A…why?!”

“Just do it!”

I huffed and fluttered over to the boxes, nearly climbing into the nearest one as I searched for an ether. The bottle smelled like strawberries and bananas. “Found one!” Resisting the urge to take a sip, I carried it over to her. She eyed the sloshing liquid and gave me an accusing look. “What? No, I didn’t drink the other half, I found it like that!”

Her eyes narrowed. “…”

“Seriously!” This really wasn’t the time to be pointing fingers.

She finally rolled her eyes and drank the liquid, then crawled out the tank. I stayed near the hatch at first, and then flew up to the hatch to peer outside. Our tank’s cannon swiveled to aim at the enemy’s, making the Spirans take notice.

Selene had her arm stretched out at the Adamantoise, and concentrating on some serious magic. She’s floating the TANK!? I quickly dropped back inside and watched the view screen instead.

The enemy tank’s cannon turned to aim at us. “Selene…” I whined nervously.

“I know…”

“Come on…”

“Sori…” She groaned in frustration.

“Any time now…”

The Adamantoise finally started to shake and lift off the tank. She did it!

“Fire!” Selene cried. “Lyra, fire!”

Our tank shook as it fired at the opponent, and a loud boom could be heard when it hit the other tank. I watched as it tumbled down the hill. Selene dropped back in. While she and the other girls talked, I sneaked back to the box and took a sip from another bottle of Ether that I had found.

Then the psycho had the balls (figuratively) to fire at the freaking Behemoth herself. To save Adair.

“Well…we got its attention,” I commented calmly. “I need a drink.”

Selene snatched the bottle of Ether from me. “No drinking on the job!”

“I need that!” I shouted in protest.

“I floated an entire tank! You do not need it more than me!”

“Have some respect for your superiors!” Lyra scolded.

“Hey! I do not want to hear anything from the squawking Chocobo!” I shouted at her.

“WHAT!?”

818 words. 18 Sori posts.

[ChobiChibi]

Shayna
Sneaky sneaky time

As they stood near the airship, the ninja plotted. It seemed like a fairly common Spiran airship, albeit old, but the layout shouldn’t be surprising. She could easily just sneak her way inside past everybody, get the pilots to leave and evacuate the ship in the process. Or just kill them all.

The latter seemed less appealing. It would be messy.

“I’ll do it.” Shay volunteered, raising her hand above her head.

“Do what exactly?” Sirius questioned, frowning slightly.

“Get the airship.”

“Little miss, you are not a pilot.” He informed her, folding his arms. “Adair would be better suited-”

“I never said I was gonna fly the thing!” She shot back at him. “And look at him! Poor little guy is exhausted...”

Adair nodded in agreement, pouting and looking generally sorry for himself. She was surprised that he didn’t even have enough energy to retort to the “little” remark, since Shay was the smallest here, other than the Machina and Sori, but they didn’t count.

“Should we not stick together?” Temzi asked, bringing a nearly empty potion bottle up towards his lips.

“I’ll be fine.” She smiled at him, gently prizing the potion from the Guardo’s hand. “You shouldn’t drink too many potions, sweetie, you might get cavities.”
Temzi blinked at her, confused, whilst the slightly intoxicated Nii giggled.

“How do you plan on going about this, exactly?”

“Hold please.” Shay unstrapped her shuriken and handed them to Temzi, who obeyed without question. She pulled out her black ninja uniform from her bag and slipped it on over the clothes she was already wearing. All they could see of her was her bright blue eyes and her scarf poking out. “Just wait here, it won’t take long.”

“Shayna!”

She had already started going, but stopped and turned back to look at Nii.

“Come back safe or Kumas will miss you and this will make Nii sad.” She told her, still in her Machina’s arms.

Although they couldn’t see it, it made Shay smile. She couldn’t think of anything to say, so simply waved and went on her way.

It didn’t take her long to get close to the door, hiding beneath the gangway. She watched carefully, waiting for the perfect time to get aboard. She watched a small group of soldiers leave the airship and quickly climbed up, walking quickly, but quietly inside.

Too easy... She thought, taking cover behind some crates whilst she took in her surroundings. She was trained for this, if she got into trouble she would only have her stubborn little self to blame. Now... the airship was facing that way so the cockpit should be...

She didn’t even need to think. She spotted her answer a little further down the corridor. Attached to the wall was a floor plan of the ship, detailing the locations of basically everything. Checking that the coast was clear, she went over to it, her finger tracing the route she would take. It wouldn’t take long, but she had no idea how many Spirans were aboard... Or where they were most likely to be...

Thankfully, it was mostly clear, with a few occasions when the girl had less time to hide than she would have liked, but the point was, no one saw her.

The cockpit’s door was open, giving her the chance to get an idea of the situation ahead. There were two chairs, a man sat in each of them. Only a few of the consoles were alight, giving her plenty of shadows to hide in. One of the men couldn’t seem to keep still, swivelling the chair from side to side, whilst the other had his feet up on the console, his arms behind his head. Both were facing away from the door, but both had guns.

Time to steal some guuuuuns~ She thought, a singsong-like voice in her mind, choosing the time when the fidgety man was facing away from her to hide behind the stationary man’s chair.

These guns were pretty. Obviously hand made, the metal work interweaved with a bright red flame pattern along its handle, spreading along its barrel. From what she could see of the other man’s gun, it had lightning patterns. Typical Spiran weaponry.

“I don’t really know what we’re gonna achieve from this.” The fidgety man played with a coin, running it through his fingers. “The Behemoth wasn’t exactly the brightest of ideas...”

“You’re just annoyed that you have to sit and wait in here rather than being out in the fray.” The second man sounded tired. Perhaps he was the one that had piloted the ship there in the first place?

Stay still, sleepy man... Carefully, she reached for the gun, gently prying it from its holster.

“No! That’s not true!” The man let out a small outburst. Shay flinched, snatching her hand back. The man was far too outraged to notice. “I’d just like to be flying this ship outta here!”

She imagined that the lazy man would have rolled his eyes at this comment. She liked this guy. “Just calm down, it’ll soon all be over with.”

A third voice came in as she took hold of the gun again, this time from the radio. “Airbird 6, this is groundhog 9, do you copy?”

As the lazy man moved to answer the radio, it gave her the perfect chance to yoink his gun away. She was forced to move slightly, so that the other wouldn’t notice her.

“Airbird 6 here, what’s up?”

“Judge Luna is reported to be alive. Alerting all units. Over and out.”

Selene...

Grabbing her small dagger from her boot, she stood up quickly, holding the blade to his neck and pointing his gun at his companion. He instantly put his hands in the air.

“Take your gun and slide it across the floor to me.” Shay instructed, her voice a little muffled by her clothing. “Do it!”

The once lively man reached for the gun, sliding it across the floor towards her, his face white with fear. She reached out with her foot and moved it closer, standing on it so he couldn’t try and lunge for it.

“Tell your crew to evacuate over the coms.” She waited, the man stayed still. She cocked the gun. “Do it or I’ll shoot you.”

He hesitated only for a second, pressing a button on the console. “This is your pilot speaking, we have been called into battle. Evacuate the ship immediately.”

“Why are you doing this?” The man she was holding hostage asked, keeping as still as possible.

“For Judge Luna...” She could feel the man tense up. “I want you both to leave now. Get your men away from the ship and let mine aboard.”

“Ivalican scum...” The other muttered.

“Shut up!” Rage boiled inside of her, her finger quivering by the trigger. “I fight for Judge Luna, not for a country. Now stand up and take me to the exit. Your friend here is coming too.” She crouched down for a second, putting her dagger away and picking up the second gun, pointing one at each of them. “Off you go!”

The pair reluctantly complied, leading her to the exit.

“You’re short for a ninja...” One commented just before she forced him down the ramp.

There was a little glint in her eye. “Girls make better ninjas!” She called back, waiting until the majority of the crew were out of sight before waving her companions aboard. “Lets go!”

[Weasel Overlord]

Sirius fir Sterrl de Famfræn
[Captain and General Ruler of the Wolfstar]
we live in pictures that have come to pass

Running running running, thought Sirius. Always with the running. But at least he knew that he'd never be unfit. Or, and he shuddered to think, here, fat. No, there would be none of that for Captain Sirius fir Sterrl de Famfræn. He would stay lean and gorgeous for the rest of his life – which could, forseeably, be extremely short, if that giant Behemoth had anything to do with it. Which it did.

His section of the party had thundered round so many corners in so many dark alleys that Sirius was beginning to feel a little sick. It was only with the perfectly timed intervention of Lady Judge Selene “Luna” Solidor that the assault let up a little, and he would admit that he was the first one to perform a jig of happiness as the missile buried itself in the brute's eye.

“Yeah! Take that,” he shouted. But quietly. It made no sense to be drawing the thing to them again, after all.

Events after this fairly whirled past, and the next thing Sirius knew they were going to steal an airship. A bloody inferior airship, at that. He spent the next ten minutes grumbling under his breath about how no poxy ship could outrun the Wolfstar on a good day, and how no poxy ship was as gorgeous as his Wolfstar, and how no poxy ship was good enough for his Lady Selene except for the Wolfstar. But by this time, Shay had dispatched whatever guards were supposed to be guarding the hideous machine, and they all piled aboard.

Sirius looked about the cockpit in distaste. “Well,” he said. “Well.” He cocked an eyebrow at the shoddiness of the work in general, and then went to sit down in an unobtrusive corner. He rested his head in his hands. Even with his eyes closed, he could tell what was happening around him. Adair was flapping over the controls of the Spiran ship (inferior), although Sirius could tell that his words held an undertone of glee, but he did not know why. Shayna was bustling here and there, scoping out the environment (inferior); Nii was giddily inspecting the weapons array (inferior); Temzi was standing around like a lawn ornament, and from his concentrated silence, presumably trying not to punch any holes in the ship (inferior) by mistake in his efforts to stay standing. Poor chap was still pretty recovering from playing a Hume, sorry, Guado grenade.

“What's wrong with Sirius?” Nii asked the ship at general. Her little robot fellow was trundling around, getting in the way as usual.

“Don't worry love,” Adair said over his shoulder. “He always gets down in the dumplings when we're on another ship.”

Shayna sniggered at “dumplings,” and Adair shot her a dirty look. “Less sniggering, more figuring, lassie.”

She stuck her tongue out and turned her attention back to tinkering with the weapons systems with Nii.

Temzi looked down at Sirius, an expression of, well, something on his face. Or what you could see of it, anyway. “Don't worry Captain, you'll be reunited with your lady love soon enough. She may even give you a token of gratitude for rescuing her!” His eyes went into a far-away daydream, as he remembered one of his favourite tales.

Shay giggled. “Does you mean the ship or Selene?”

“A ship has no feelings, how can it be grateful?” Temzi looked confused, as was his wont.

Sirius poked his head up. “Does too have feelings,” he mumbled, and then went back to his close examination of the floor through his knees.

“You saw him having relations with the Wolfstar, Armour-boy. Remember, after we escaped from Soca, yes, no? Sirius would remake her in the image of a beautiful lady and still be satisfied, even though she was still wooden,” Adair commented. “Not only that, I'd gladly let him fulfil our little agreement on her behalf.” He made a lewd gesture in the direction of his nether regions. “Splinters,” he said in a stage whisper. “Most unpleasant.”

#14 // 717~

ARGH sorry it's not ver' long. *bows and scrapes*

[VirtualPlay]

Kaida Liena - Al Bhed Gunner
Tank, tank, we're in a tank
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Judge Luna had decided to take control of the driving, which was good because I didn't have any idea what she wanted to do with this thing. She made a jab at her other two guards as the Moogle spoke up, "Hey, uh, Selene?" He tapped the screen, "There are dots on this thing now. Some red, some green."

I moved up next to him, "Green is the Spiran army. I would switch it over, but all the machines have a fail-safe. If we make Spirans the target instead of the Ivalicians, this tank will be red flagged."

"Joy," Judge Luna said, in a very not-joyous manner. She told Lyra to be on cannon duty, something she seemed more than ecstatic to do. As we drove over the ridge of a hill, Judge Luna stopped the tank suddenly, looking at the view screen.

I looked too, and my mind started racing. I didn't think we'd come across the Adamantoise so soon. This was the other gem of the Spiran ground assault: the perfectly armored and heavily armed tank meant to take out any attack force.

"Kaida, where do we need to hit that thing?" Judge Luna asked.

I let out a visible frown this time, looking harder at the screen for some possible weakness. The screen didn't show any, and instead started fizzling out. I slammed it to try and get it to stop; of course we had to have stolen the most out of date tank. "Um… honestly I don't know; it's named Adamantoise for a reason."

Lyra answered Judge Luna's questioning look with, "Giant armored turtle."

"Oh…" she replied, then slammed the controls forward again, saying, "Alright then, Plan B." To me she added, "Take the controls," which I did, wondering what craziness Plan B was going to entail.

I heard some arguing from the background, but I was too busy adjusting myself to the tank's less-than-perfect controls to really notice. The next thing I heard was Judge Luna telling me to drive between the Ivalician troops and the Adamantoise. I quickly jerked the controls right, causing a couple cries of alarm, then slowed the tank to a stop.

"AIM!" came Judge Luna's voice. I heard the groan of the cannon as it turned to face Adamantoise. I started seriously hoping Judge Luna knew what she was doing, because otherwise our tank was going to be in pieces before too long. I stared at the screen showing Adamantoise turning its own cannon at us, unable to focus on anything else. The end started glowing, readying its fire.

Then all of a sudden, the tank started shaking; it was slow at first, but soon it started to lift off the ground. I suddenly realized what her plan was, and as she gave the order to fire, I watched with glee as the bottom of the tank, its only weak spot, took a direct hit. The Adamantoise was sent flying, and the Spirans all started to scatter.

I turned the tank away from them and back towards the cheering Ivalicians. Unfortunately they weren't the only thing on the screen. The Behemoth was also there, knocking over buildings, focusing on a small group of people. One person in the group stood out as a probable particular interest to Judge Luna…

"Uh… Commander…" I said shakily, "I think I found Adair…"

She rushed to the front, looked at the screen, and muttered a near-inaudible, "Shit…" under her breath. "Kaida, prepare to run. Lyra, fire on the Behemoth."

"Miss, that will attract the beast's attention toward us," she protested.

"I'm aware of that."

"I don't like this plan…" I said nervously; even if the tank was moving at full speed when the shot was fired I doubted we could outrun the beast. Still, I slowly turned the tank away from the Behemoth.

"Lyra," she called out, wondering where the blast was.

"There's too much smoke, I can't get a clear shot."

Judge Luna turned and moved to the cockpit instead. A few seconds later another shot was fired, this time followed by an earth-shaking roar. Without another moment's hesitation I slammed the controls forward. If that thing was about to start chasing us, we would need all the speed we could get.

I focused the screen on it; sure enough it had started chasing us. Well, after it realized where the blast that claimed one of its eyes had come from. Fortunately it seemed to not be moving as quickly as I had feared, possibly due to the pain from its half-missing face. Still, I didn't foresee this slow start to be its constant chasing speed.

"So, um…" I called out after a few minutes of being chased, "where exactly do you want me to-"

I was interrupted by a sudden burst of static and a small frame on the screen popping up with a blurred image of someone. They seemed to be mid-conversation.

"-don't think you've got it right, I don't see anything at—oh wait my good man, you've got something to work. Looks a tad fuzzy though, try and fix that would you now?"

"Adair!" Judge Luna yelled, jumping up to the front. "Where the HELL are you?"

"On a piece of…acquired flying machinery," he said. Suddenly the picture cleared. "Oh there you've got it, Sirius. Now Selene dear, where have YOU gotten off to?"

She simply stared at the screen for a moment. "Do you honestly need to ask that? Where the hell do you think we are?!"

He stared a bit before responding, "…Giant purple beast?"

"Correct," she said, obviously very annoyed.

Adair let out a sigh, "One daring rescue coming right up."

"Better make it a fast rescue," I cut in, "it seems the 'giant purple beast' has caught its second wind." The rest of the screen not obscured by the video link with Adair showed the Behemoth starting to get closer.

"That's going to cost extra, missy," Adair said, "especially for someone I'm not rather familiar with."

"Adair!"

-=-=-=-=- 1003 / 04 -=-=-=-=-

(That's Selene shouting the last line, in case you couldn't tell.)

[Crystal Tears]

Selene Solidor
Her headache is rising; she really does hate monsters…

The core of the tank was rumbling as the beasts caught up with them, letting out a terrifying roar the creature slammed its claw down onto the ground. Selene braced herself as the tank swerved; she really did admire Kaida’s ability to drive these things. The princess had never really taken to vehicles, much preferring the rare horse or an elegant chocobo.

Another sharp turn and suddenly it felt like they were experiencing an earthquake. Sori clung to a railing on the side, grimacing as another roar boomed.

“Kaida what the hell are you doing?!” Sori called as he shut his eyes tightly and tried to hold on.

“Taking a short cut!”

Selene stumbled forward, bold move considering her history of knocking herself unconscious. She slammed into the front command board, recovering weakly she looked at the display.

They were cutting through an alley.

The tank groaned a tad as it barreled its way through a back wall.

She stood corrected as she suddenly realized that Kaida was making an alley way. The tank burst out the other side of the building, and the Behemoth was left to trudge through it. Slowing down as debris and rubble were sent flying by the enraged creature behind them. She sharply turned and swerved, dodging each piece of rubble that crashed down next to them in a frenzy.

“Adair!” Selene cried, as the tank’s system’s warned of a build up of energy coming from behind them. “Saving our asses would be greatly appreciated!”

“It’s firing!” Lyra called.

If it hadn’t been for the brutal shot to the face earlier, the group would’ve been dead. The blast rocketed towards them, erupting as it touched the ground and exploding outwards. The vehicle was sent flying though, cries of horror and shock escaped from everyone as they did rolls through the air. For a moment Selene felt weightless, and her enter world seemed to stop. Her skin felt electrified and tingly, her eyes wide she spotted the massive hole that has been blasted into the tank.

The world sped up then, and everything was dark for a couple of seconds. The judge blinked slowly, trying to gather her thoughts and make her body move.

“Miss!” Lisette cried, rushing over to the stunned woman. “Are you alright?”

Selene coughed. “Fine, just peachy… Is everyone else alright?”

“I’m alive..” Sori coughed, patting himself off.

“It’s fried most of the controls.”

Lyra groaned, lifting herself off the ground after Kaida’s comment. “Never fails, around you Commander, I always end up getting blown up.”

Selene shot her a look. “Kaida can you get us out of here?”

There was a bellow of rage as the creature realized it had missed.

“Um…”

Sori crossed his arms. “Should I get out and push?”

The driver shot him a nasty glare. “Maybe.”

The warning alarm began again.

There was scramble as everyone seemed to rush to places, Sori and Selene moved to the front with Kaida as they tried to make heads or tails of half the readings. Lisette and Lyra seemed to be focusing on getting the cannon to work again. The team worked in surprising graceful unison, watching thankfully that the systems were coming back online; it even had enough power to tell them there was a giant hole in the front right corner of the armored vehicle.

“Come on…” Kaida bit her lip, pushing the throttle. The engine groaned and the tank began to move forward.

“Faster!” Sori cried, waving his arms around.


“Did a beautiful maiden call for a daring rescue?” The voice of Sirius broke through the static as a clutzy looking dropship lowered in front of them, the back ramp lowering down.

“Oi! Exactly what did you do, oh fantastical captain o’ mine?”

“Adair now is not the time to state who did what in this thrilling saving of numerous damsels in distresses!”

“HEY!”

“Plus one moogle.”

“Better.”

The tank roared forward, crawling up the ramp and forcing itself fat self into the belly of the ship.

“Go Adair!” Kaida cried into the comm.. “We’re in!”

“Righty, brilliant escape underway!”

The ship audible protested to the weight of the tank as the ramp began to lift. It SLOWLY moved away from the ground, perhaps a little too slow, as suddenly the ship lurched, there were loud metal snapping, bending and tearing noises before the craft smashed into a building.

Selene blinked, at some point she had closed her arms and covered them with her arm. Upon opening them she found herself at the edge of the tank’s floor. The ramp and back end of her vehicle had been swiped clean off. And now, as their pilot tried to get higher in the air, she was staring at a large, purple beast who seemed incredibly anger.

Selene blinked. “SHIT!”

The tank slid backwards, towards the nothingness that was air. Selene scrambled, desperately trying to get up away from the sheer drop to a monster’s mouth.

“Lisette!”

Selene looked over at Kaida’s call and spotted her guardian falling. Sori reacted quickly, concentrating on the falling Viera. Everyone watched as her tumbled was slowed, giving the judge enough time to leap across to her and grasp her hand. Lisette looked over, eyes wide with surprise, though Selene didn’t know whether it was from the horrible reality she was falling out of the tank or amazement she had made that daring jump.

Of course, the spell wore off and Selene nearly plummeted out with her companion. Her grasp on Lisette’s hand tightened as they both hung out of the ass-end of the aircraft, the Viera dangling helpless and being tossed about in the wind.

“Argh!” Selene cursed as the swinging sent her into the wall, but she refused to lessen her grip again. “The hell are you doing out there Lisette?”

The Veira almost seemed to smirk despite the circumstance. “Checking the weather Miss! It’s ideal for kite flying today, if you cared to know!”

Selene laughed, her body feeling completely stretched.

“Need a hand?”

She strained to see over her shoulder, Shay was balancing beside her, shuriken stabbed into the floor like an anchor. The others didn’t seem to have the grace required to get here; admittedly, Selene had survived that jump on luck and luck alone.

“If you don’t mind Shay, Lisette has picked a horrible time to check the damn weather!”

“The Behemoth insisted!” The Viera shouted. “Perhaps you’ve noticed?”

“Aye, I have!” Selene looked back at her. “I advise you next time to refuse the invitation!”

* *1100 / 33 *

[ChobiChibi]

Shayna Xanthrope

If the little Ninja struggled to help Temzi to his feet, there was no way she would be able to pull both Selene and Lisette back up to safety. Not now that they were hanging off the back of an airship with an angry Behemoth following behind, its mouth practically hanging open waiting for the girls to just drop on into it. Tasty little snacks they would become if she didn't hurry up and get a plan together.

“Shay! What the hell are you doing?!” Selene yelled at her. She blinked, snapping out of her little thoughtful daze.

“Trying to think up a plan...”

“Think FASTER!”

There was no way that she was anywhere near close enough to even grab either of them. Yes, she was beside them, but Lisette was dangling too far out of reach... She tapped her foot in impatience, angry at herself, until she realised what she was stood on.

“Stepping stones!”

Taking her second shuriken from her back, she threw it away from the ship, accidentally grazing the already pissed off Behemoth before it rounded back towards her, landing conveniently a few feet below her and closer to her dangling friends, lodging itself in the metal. She hopped from one to the other and crouched down. Now that she was pretty much at the same level as Selene, she'd be able to reach Lisette.

“Bunny-kite! Grab my hand!” Shay reached out as far as she could, but being a small girl, her arms were not that long. Thankfully, the Vierra easily made up that distance and Shay pulled her up onto the makeshift platform.

As Lisette climbed up onto Shay's other shuriken, things took a turn for the worst. The Behemoth had caught up again, its giant paw casting a shadow over them as Shay was helping Selene up.

“Monster monster monster monster monster!” The ninja repeated, desperately trying to help her up faster.

“Calm down and hurry up!” Selene instructed, trying to use her feet to walk up the side. It was easier said than done, the metal wasn't exactly giving much grip for her shoes.

“Too late!” Shay moved her grip so it was further down Selene's arm, lodging her feet in the gap between two spikes of her shuriken and the wall. The Behemoth's paw hit the side of the ship and Shay lurched forwards, now lying across her shuriken, holding onto Selene for dear life.

“I thought you were supposed to be helping me!” Selene did not sound too impressed at all.

“Yeah, but I wasn't expecting the Behemoth to paw at us like we're a flying ball of yarn!” Shay retorted. “And I AM helping you, I coulda let you fall!”

“Yeah, so dangling here is so much different to when I was holding onto the ship myself!”

“It is, because you- OW! MOTHER FUCKING OW!” They'd slipped a little, causing Shay's body to run along one of the spikes of her shuriken, the point on the end stabbing itself into her stomach, her feet only just stabilising them enough to not fall.

Shay bit her lip, concentrating so hard on not letting go that she didn't notice the other paw.

It hit the ship.

Her feet slipped.

They fell.

Previous post was no 14, 1250 words (forgot to say XD)
Post 15, 555 words.

TAG MOFO >:3

[Crystal Tears]

Selene Solidor

So, they were falling.

Somehow, Selene wasn't surprised.

They fell through the air rather gracefully, neither of them fully panicking as the Behemoth stopped and opened its mouth as wide as it physical could. Selene gritted her teeth, flipping herself around. Through some sort of stroke of brilliant luck, she landed on the creature’s snout. Outstretching her hand and catching Shay who was going to fall straight into the monster’s maw.

With one powerful swing she sent the thief spiraling back up into the air. She let out a yelp, not expecting such a powerful throw. She landed unsteadily beside Selene, who gulped.

“Well, this is a bad place to be…” She noted as the creature snorted and began lowering its head.

“Move it!” Shay cried, as they both took off running down the creature’s head.

Both of them stopped dead when it came to facing the creature’s sloping back. The behemoth roared, a paw coming into to swipe them clean off its skull. Shay shoved Selene to the ‘ground’, both of them lying as flat as they could. The two of them exchanged glances as the creature suddenly began flailing, and staying alive seemed that much more impossible.

“Son of a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiitch!” Selene cried, finding herself flung clear off the head and landing roughing on its back. She rolled, over and over down the back under she mangled to grab a hold of a wound the creature had sustained. Angrily she dug her hand into the bloody slash on its back, hearing it roar with displeasure.

“SELENE!” Shay cried, holding onto the creature’s mohawk in desperation. “HELP ME!”

Selene opened her mouth to say something, but she didn’t have anything to say. “What the hell do you want me to say!?”

“SOMETHING HELPFUL!”

“HOLD ON!!”

It was almost a joke in the sense she said it, trying to stay on the creature and not fall to the ground.

“Thanks tips!” Shayna cried; the sarcasm in her voice not hidden by the horror at all. “Any other advice!?”

“Yeah! Don’t make dumbass requests in life threatening situations!”

One more head bang and Shay went flying. She landed on her feet but went skidding down the creature’s back; Selene was fairly impressed the girl could keep her balance so well. She zoomed by Selene, who barely caught the girl’s flailing arm and again, threw her upwards. This time, the ninja took the opportunity to make use of the guns she had stolen from…

Well to be honest Selene had no idea where she had gotten those guns from, but she was shooting the hell out of the backside of the creature’s skull. She supposed it was a mild irritation, but it was enough to make it start swinging its tail around.

“Oh.. Fuc-“

Selene had never been sent so many directions at once, in one second she was moving up, down, side to side and before long she gave up trying to figure out which way she was about to travel. To save herself the migrane the woman took a chance and let go. The behemoth flung her up, and suddenly she was standing precariously on its shoulder.

And it was staring at her.

Selene raised an eyebrow and pointed her gun at its one good eye, in a challenging sort of way, it snorted.

“Hi.”

* * 555 / 34 * *

[ChobiChibi]

Shayna
Underdog!

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Shay didn't understand why she didn't use guns more often! It was such a simple mechanism! Point and click, bullets fly out and hurt things!

Bang! Bang-bang! Bang! Bang bang bang!

This was so easy. No effort needed. No achy arms from throwing things all the time. No accidental cuts and bruises from being careless. The only way she could possibly hurt herself is if she pointed the gun at her own head and pulled the trigger.

Bang-bang! Bang-bang! Bang! Bang!

Of course, there was the fact that she was falling. She'd forgotten about that.

Bang!

“OH SHIT!”

Shayna barely missed the creature's tail before she remembered that she had to do something in order to stop herself from breaking all the bones in her body. She swivelled in the air so that she was going head first and kept her arms held out, making sure she wasn't stupid enough to let go of these pretty guns. As her arms hit the floor, she forced herself into a forwards roll, protecting her head from any damage. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for her back, which slammed against the concrete. She had no time to think about the shooting pain up her spine, not when the Behemoth's pack foot came crashing down, nearly squishing her if it hadn't been for the fact she had log rolled out of the way.

She scrambled to her feet, rubbing her back. “This shirt is ruined...” She mumbled, glancing at the hole in it and the blood slowly seeping from it.

“Selene?!” She called, trying to figure out just where the girl had got to... Last time she saw her, she was on the tail... But she surely wasn't now...

Oh no...

There she was, eye to eye with the Behemoth, stood precariously on its shoulder. Pointing her gun at it?! What was she thinking?! She was about to become it's later afternoon snack! She would ruin its dinner! Although, dinner could possibly be her if she didn't hurry up and do something.

“HEY, FATASS!”

No change. The two seemed forever locked in some kind of staring competition...

“OY, UGLY, FAT, SHORT SNOUTED, LITTLE CLAWED, UNSCARY TEETHED CHOCOBO!”

Not even a flinch.

Then it hit her.
Literally, the tip of its tail swatted her to one side. She only stumbled, it still didn't care...

“HEY, LOOK WHAT I'VE GOT!”

The thief pulled from her bag what may have become her most valuable, and now life saving, possession. She waved around the dragon scale that she had stolen from their previous battle in the temple. Now it turned to her, its eyes glaring and fixated.

“YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT!” She smirked, standing still with it above her head. “I KILLED ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS.”

The Behemoth snorted. It started walking towards her, in the complete opposite direction of where the others were flying.

“IT WAS DEAD EASY! JUST WALKED IN THERE, BEAT IT AROUND A BIT AND IT DIED. THAT'S RIGHT. A LITTLE MIDGET KILLED A DRAGON. INNIT FUNNY?”

It was all lies, but that was irrelevant. Selene stared at her in disbelief.

“MAYBE I SHOULD START CALLING MYSELF A DRAGOON!”

She could almost hear Selene laugh at that, if it weren't for the growl coming from the monster.

“NOW WOULD BE A REALLY GOOD TIME TO MOVE SELENE!”

Shay started shooting again as Selene took the chance to get the hell off its shoulder. It looked like she had run down its back, or at least attempted to, but Shay wasn't in a position to really check. She'd strapped the dragon scale into the straps for her shuriken, walking backwards at first, then jogging, still firing. Eventually she gave up trying to do damage and ran, only occasionally firing over her shoulder as the Behemoth started picking up its pace.

My family had better get fuck loads of money in compensation if I die saving you, Selene...

Number 16, 670 words.

[Crystal Tears]

Selene Solidor

Ignition

Selene landed somewhat gracefully on the ground; she held the crouched position for a moment longer then necessary. If that thing was going to eat her, she didn’t want to see it, something about viewing a whole bunch of teeth just before death didn’t quite appeal to her. Thought with the resounding, ground shaking stomps that seemed to be moving away from her, it seemed Shayna’s plan had worked well. Of course, in that time Selene had learned her own fiery glare could contend with a behemoth.

She was proud of herself, but knew she better get back to saving the poor ninja’s ass.

Shayna had done the oh so unwise thing of taunting a massive, purple, mohawked creature who was half blind and probably very very angry. Selene found herself sprinting to try and catch up with them, but it was no use. Even if she did catch up with Shay, exactly what she was going to save her was BEYOND imagining.

“Alright…” Selene huffed, looking around the destroyed road. “Need a plan…”

“Kweh!”

Selene slowly turned, behind her; to her astonishment was a chocobo. A little rough looking; with a dead Ivalician soldier still hanging on its saddle. It looked at her pleadingly, as if wanted to be rid of the bloodied corpse. She approached it quickly but cautiously and undid the man, watching him fall to the ground with a thump.

The bird let out a happy coo and lowered itself to allow her to mount.

Selene smirked.


“Why did you go so fast?” Her mother frowned, bandaging the little girl’s arm gently. “Didn’t father tell you to take it easy?”

Selene didn’t understand the caution so many people had for chocobo’s. They were fast, faster than the old horses and strange mechanical contraptions Dr. Cid came up with. What was the point of having such a fast animal if you never let it reach its potential.

“I don’t like to go slow.” Selene huffed as the bandaging was finished. “Going fast is better.”

Her mother smiled gently. “Slow and steady wins the race.”

“Pheh, only if you’re a hare with ADHD.”


The behemoth was coming up fast, this particular chocobo, while looking rough around the edges, could go quite fast. Selene smirked, holding herself low and close to the birds body as it leapt clean over a ditch and hopped on and then off a couple of ruined tanks. It moved up, pacing itself accordingly before it was directly next to the creature’s face.

“Ready…?” She shot a nasty glare over at the creature. “Choco-kick!”

The yellow bird understood perfectly, and suddenly pivoted on its foot and jumped at the Behemoth’s face. Both its feet smashed hard into the creature’s wounded face, forcing it to barrel to the side and crash head first into numerous buildings. It let out a mangled cry of despair before it fell silent in a huge pillar of smoke and dust. Shayna slowed to a stop, panting and trying to catch her breath as the ‘Chocobo Knight’ leapt over to her.

“Come on,” Selene offered the girl a hand she hastily took, and sat on the back of the bird.

“Is it dead?”

There was a very thunderous, very angry growl that emanated from the rubble, just as it started to move.

“Aw damn.”

As the bird took off, with two people on its back, the creature burst out from underneath the rubble. Selene cringed as pieces of building and rock careened down around them and they were forced to take very abrupt, very evasive maneuvers.

“LEFT!” Shayna cried, holding on for dear life as a hunk just barely missed them as they swiveled in all directions. “RIGHT! LEFT! RIGHT! LEFT!”

Then there was oh wonderful feeling of the ground shaking and the air turning hot as some giant monster of destruction raced to catch up.

“Must go faster…” Shayna pleaded, moving closer to Selene to what the gunner assumed was, to avoid the closing in teeth. “Must go faster. Must Go Faster! FASTER! FASTER!”

The chocobo squawked unhappily as a couple of its tail feathers were taken in a too close for comfort bite.

“FASTER WOULD BE BETTER!”

“No backseat driving!” Selene countered, and felt herself pale.

Up ahead was a bridge.

Only the middle was missing.

* * 719 / 35 * *

Because all chase scenes need a bridge jumping part. TAG

[classy_cat18]

I wasn't going to let you hog the rest of the action!

Sori – Time Mage Moogle

“WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY DOING?”

“Saving the day, I’d wager,” Adair said calmly.

I clenched my small fists. Like hell they were going to steal the action from me! I grabbed the bottle of Ether that Selene and I were fighting over earlier and drank the rest of it. “Open the hatch!” I yelled at Adair.

“And what are you planning to do from all the way over here?”

“I don’t know! But I’m not just going to sit in here and think about it!”

He gave a thumbs up and opened the hatch. “Have fun committing suicide!” he said as I flew/was sucked out of the ship.

I tumbled through the air before righting myself just a foot above the ground. Seconds later, I yelped as I heard a loud thud behind me. I whirled around with my rod raised to find Kumas standing there. “Did Nii send you to defend me?” I asked him.

“KUMAS!” Nii hollered as he hung for dear life onto the ship near the hatch. “GET BACK UP HERE! THAT IS AN ORDER!”

“Guess not.”

“Re-entry is impossible at this point,” Kumas informed me.

I had never tried to order Kumas, and I didn’t know what would happen if I tried. “Try running ahead of the Behemoth, and we’ll see what we can come up with.”

After a quick Haste, I flew to circle around the Behemoth and the chocobo. Adair was right; I had no strategy. But the best things in war came from ad-lib, I guessed, so I brainstormed while fluttering as fast as my bat-like wings could carry me. It’s not going to focus on me, not when it has a princess, a ninja, and a chocobo to snack on.

Kumas and I were fast enough to weave through all the obstacles and still be fast enough to get ahead of them. Still no plan… but it seems that they were heading towards a bridge.

A bridge.

A bridge!

“A BRIDGE WITH THE MIDDLE MISSING!” I screamed in a panic. Kumas calmly looked at me (I guessed), with who-knows-what going through its electronic brain. “Will the chocobo make it? There are two people on it.”

“The probability will be raised with a speed increase,” Kumas said.

I looked under the bridge at the water, doubting that the Behemoth could swim. A plan finally came to me. “I wonder if I can do a Haste from this distance. Once they’re safe on the other side, I can blast the bridge under the fiend.” My body glowed as I casted Focus, then aimed my rod ahead of the chocobo. “HASTE!”

The chocobo suddenly went twice as fast, making its two passengers hang on even tighter. The oversized bird raced towards the edge, jumped…

(cue Dukes of Hazzard moment)

And landed right on the edge of the other side. It flapped its wings frantically for stability until it got both fully right.

“THUNDARA!” I shot an orb of lighting for the beams under the piece of bridge that the Behemoth was on. They cracked but didn’t crumble. “Crap! That’s all I got!”

A beam of red light then shot out and blasted the cracks in the beams, finally destroying them. I grinned at Kumas. “Nice shot,” I commented.

The Behemoth roared angrily as it fell and plunged to the watery depths below.

Oh, wait.

Damn.

“THE WATER’S NOT DEEP ENOUGH!” I pulled at my ears, but was slightly soothed by the fact that the Behemoth was too far down to reach Selene and Shayna.

595 words. 19 Sori posts.

[VirtualPlay]

Kaida Liena - Al Bhed Gunner
Disaster is just commonplace here, isn't it?
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
So for some reason, even though we find a perfectly good ship, everyone suddenly decides to fall or jump out of it to have their own little adventures. I mean, sure the Behemoth didn't exactly help at first, but that doesn't give everyone the right to just mount their own rescue mission. I sighed, moving from the drop hatch to the cockpit. Sirius and Adair seemed to be the only ones fully intent on actually staying inside the ship.

Of course, if they knew how to actually run the ship that might've been a little better. Sure they obviously knew how to fly it, but that seemed to be the extent of their knowledge. "Oh good," Sirius said as he noticed me, "someone else with the good sense not to jump out of the nice, safe flying machine."

"I was thinking the same thing myself," I said as I slid in between them. I looked over the panels, then quickly flipped a couple switches to turn off the landing gear. Immediately the ship's movement became smoother. "Now how about we bring this nice safe ship to go and pick them up?"

"And just what do you think you're doing, touching my ship AND giving out orders?!" Adair suddenly demanded.

"Your ship now, hm?" Sirius slipped in a comment.

"Yes, I took control of the ship so that makes it my ship," Adair responded. "That is usually how it goes in these cases." I could tell immediately that this kind of argument was commonplace, and an argument was definitely NOT what we needed now.

"SHUT UP!" I shouted, getting between them. "Which is more important, establishing your ownership on a stolen ship, or saving the lives of the people on the ground being chased by that creature?!"

Apparently they didn't know quite how to take being yelled at. Or maybe it was the fact that I was yelling at them and we didn't even know each other that well. In any case, Adair was dumbfounded, barely being able to stutter, "Well, obviously we should, um…go after…"

"Your 'dear Selene' is down there."

That kicked him into motion. "Right we are, off rescuing monster-chased people we go!" he cried as he turned the ship towards where the Behemoth had run to. By the time we got there, though, the Behemoth wasn't moving very quickly at all. In fact, it was stuck in a shallow river (well, shallow to it) under a broken bridge.

The ship lowered itself to the ground, and the hatch was opened once again, this time to a loud "WAWRK!" Judge Luna and the ninja were sitting on top of a battered but steady chocobo. Not two seconds later, the ground shook slightly as Nii's machina robot landed after apparently clearing the entire gap caused by the broken bridge. The Moogle floated over not long after, and everyone piled into the ship.

Sirius appeared from the cockpit. "Well now, since everyone has decided to come aboard again—and I see you've made a new friend as well—could we possibly get ourselves…"

A loud crunch came from outside, and we all turned to see shards of broken bridge suddenly hurtling our direction. The ship lurched and spun as a particularly large piece flew by and, I assumed, hit the wing (at which a loud "MY SHIP!" could be heard from the front).

Everyone rushed into the cockpit, and we could see the piece of the wing that was taken out by the bridge shrapnel. "Can you get this thing in the air?" Judge Luna yelled.

"Considering that we can all see one of my ship's wings over there, it's going to have to be a resounding 'no' on that one," Adair said, even as he fiddled with the controls. Finally he gave up with an exasperated sigh, "It appears we may be hoofing it."

-=-=-=-=- 646 / 05 -=-=-=-=-

No, that was not recapping, it was showing an alternate perspective. Keep your mobs off'a me.

Also, sorry if I misplayed anyone, but I didn't want to be left out either.

[Samchu]

The one night I don't check TPM, lol.

Lyra
~~~

It was the first time I'd ever been happy to see pirates and, Gods willing, the last. The tank rolled into the ship as Lisette and I continued to work on repairing the canon. Everything seemed to be going well until the tank shuddered. Time slowed. I saw Lisette begin to slip and grabbed her hand, leaving her dangling over the side of the canon where the floor had vanished. The fire in my arm was raging. I tried to move but I was caught against the back end of the cannon and staring down into the jaws of the Behemoth as the tank began to slide towards it. My grip failed me.

"Lisette!" I heard Kaida's shout before I realised what was happening. There was panic in the air but I couldn't see it, just the space around my hand where Lisette's hand had been. All those years. All that training and still I could do nothing. I'd let her fall...I'd let her...

The Temple had fallen into disrepair in the years I'd been away but the graves were still intact. I knew hers by heart even though I hadn't seen it since the funeral. Hayden's gift was still there, rotted to a skeleton of itself by time and the elements. I knelt at her graveside and prayed, the way I hadn't prayed since I was too young to understand what a prayer was or why I should make one. I prayed for her peace - as I should have done at her funeral - and said the words I should have said that day.

"It was my fault."

"Yes it was."

I looked up to see Shayna standing on the other side of the grave. She looked older than I would have expected. I got to my feet. "I was just -"

"Leaving?"

"Shayna..."

She knelt so I couldn't see her face. "You shouldn't be here."

"Are you ok? I sent letters-"

"We don't want your help!"

I stood silent as the words sunk in. "Is this because of Cole?"

"It crippled us - getting him out. We barely ate. Hayden...Hayden got so sick. We didn't think..."

I hugged her tight, not caring whether she pushed me off or not. I couldn't bear to see her like this; knowing that I was the cause. "Everything's going to get better." I slipped the money pouch from my belt into her hand. "It's not much, but it's a start. There'll be more, much more. You'll see. I'll get us back to where we belong, just like she said I would."

I felt her return my hug.

"It's going to be better," I said. "This is just the beginning."

It was the beginning. The beginning of the end of us. It had been the last time I'd seen Shayna, the last time we had been sisters. I had promised her everything but I had failed. I failed her just as I had failed my mother and now...just as I had failed Lisette.

I thumped the cannon with my fist. "I'm sick of failing!" The words echoed in the empty tank. Everyone had vanished. I had been abandoned, trapped and helpless. Still that weak child from all those years ago...

The tank shook and the debris trapping me loosened. I slid out of my prison and towards the sound of voices. Everyone was gathered round. There was a chocobo. And Lisette...I pretended not to be relieved that she was alive.

"So you're saying that the ship we just stole to fly us out of here, won't fly?"

"Yes, I would say that sums the situation up quite nicely."

"Shit..."

"Uh guys..."

I saw everyone staring at the moogle as I stumbled into the cockpit.

"Behemoth!"



~~~~~~~~
625 words
# 7

[Crystal Tears]

Selene Solidor

The Behemoth bellowed; it didn’t take to kindly to being stuck down in the river. It snorted, staring up at the wounded airship and the numerous targets. They had been growing into quite the pain, whether it was shooting it in the face with a cannon, killing fellow beasts or just generally living when they should be dead like every other group of weirdos that chose to cross its path.

Angrily it began to think, staring at what was left of the underside of the bridge thoughtfully before stomping forward.

It would end them, or it would die trying.


The group was arguing, not exactly a surprise. Though Selene had decided to stay out of it for the most part, the creature was stuck down in the river.

“It’s in the trench.” Lisette stated firmly, moving aside as the princess chose to exit the cockpit. “Is it safe to assume we have finally be rid of the monster until proper help arrives?”

Selene wandered back to the chocobo, who was looking back at what remained of its tail feathers sadly.

“Kweh….”

“They’ll grow back.” Selene smiled as the bird looked back at her, cocking its head to one side. “Don’t worry.”

The chocobo cooed softly as she approached and patted it on the head, watching it ruffle its feathers and shake the saddle still strapped onto it.

“I hope you don’t intend to keep that.”

Selene pivoted, frowning at Sirius who approached.

“And why not?”

“My lady, the Wolfstar is quickly running out of room for people, let alone large birds. And I for one am firmly against animals on board.”

Selene raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Because they’re unpredictable, panicky, and dirty.”

She rolled her eyes and went back to petting the chocobo who was now glaring at the pirate for the last comment.

“I’m not saying you in particular my good bird friend, but it is reasonable to assume you will get dirty eventually and that tends to lead to scuff marks on the floor, stains and-“

Selene moved closer to Sirius, pressing her body up against him for a moment and watching him suddenly stiffen. It wasn’t a normal occurrence that the woman ever dared to show her obvious undying love for him (she’ll let him think that), so there had to be a reason she wanted his suddenly undivided attention. She looked up at him fondly, biting her lower lip a tad.

“Please can I keep him?”

“I.. Well.. No, I am staying with my answer-“

“Please Sirius?” the way his name slid off her tongue made his defense wobble.

“And who will look after him? Hm?”

Selene didn’t much desire looking after her pet, she never had to before. Innocently she shrugged and wrapped her arms around his neck as she stared into his eyes.

“Fredric…”

“Who? Oh, the hypello… Well at least you’re honest…” He frowned. “You have no real intention of truly looking after the bird…”

She shifted her weight and watched him bit his lip as their bodies touched again. “You would make the dear princess, who got you your freedom and your lovely Wolfstar back, clean up after a chocobo?”

Sirius faltered, mulling over his options. “No… I suppose I wouldn’t…”

She smiled happily. “So I can keep him?”

“Hm.. Fine, my darling Selene, you may keep your bird. He needs a name though, yes?”

“Rusty!” Shay cried, rushing over to the duo and grinning. She looked over at Selene almost child-like. “Rusty right? We can name him Rusty!”

Selene smirked, and pulled away from the captain, she looked at the chocobo. “Do you mind Rusty?”

“Kweh!”

Shayna squealed, giving Selene a quick hug before rushing over to the bird. Sirius looked a bit disappointed, and the princess found herself feeling a tad bad for manipulating him into letting Shay and herself keep Rusty. She approached the captain, and gently placed a kiss on his cheek. The action made him look over in surprise, blinking in astonishment.

“Thank you Sirius.” She half smiled; turning and hopping outside of the ruined craft.

She had just stepped onto the concrete when the ground shook. There was the very loud noise of things collapsing and the screech of metal scrapping and bending before the entire floor below her seemed to give out. Selene yelped, grabbing hold of the edge with one hand as she looked down.

The Behemoth was glaring up at her, mouth twisted into what could only be a smile.

“Shay!” Selene cried, slowly clambering back up onto the bridge. “We need too-“

About ten feet away, she watched as a good sized crack began to form in the concrete. The bridge groaned, and suddenly she was no longer trying to climb onto even ground, but a quickly increasing slope.

* * 787 / 36 * *

BOSS BATTLE: The Behemoth
Battle theme: Otherworld

Brought all the way from Mt. Gagazet in Spira, the Behemoth is a massive purple beast that is incredibly difficult to combat. It’s smart, having perhaps the intelligence level of an average person; it learns quickly and has devastating moves. For the majority of battles, it uses its powerful limbs (tail included) to crush fighters into oblivion. If you get to close or it has the opportunity, it will snap at you with its jaws. Its most powerful moves are ram and energy blast, look out for those.

OVERDRIVE: Sirius, Nii, and Shayna

And yes, we're literally falling into our arena. XD

[classy_cat18]

Sori – Moogle Time Mage
Free…freefalling…

“Please let that monster stay down there. I’m too tired to fart out any more spells,” I groaned as I sat in a nearby chair on the bridge.

Adair cocked an eyebrow. “Surely you’re not too tired to move out of my seat.”

“You weren’t sitting in it.”

“But it is the pilot’s intended seat.”

“But you weren’t sitting in it.”

“Get out, you little furball!” He lurched forward to grab me.

I pressed myself against the seat and glared at him. “Forget it! I may not have any mana in me but I can still club you with my rod!”

“That sounds strangely wrong.” But he quickly got on track. “Ha! My sword will beat your rod!”

That sounded even more wrong than the last one.

“The ship’s tilting,” Nii interrupted calmly, still wearing Adair’s sunglasses.

We braced ourselves as the ship tilted more.

And more.

And more.

“WE’RE GOING TO FALL!” Adair and I shrieked together.

Lyra, Lisette, Temzi and Kaida immediately left the cockpit to look for Selene, but Kumas rushed to the window at the cockpit and smashed his robotic fist right through it. “What is he doing?” I asked Nii.

“Nii doesn’t know,” the Al Bhed replied. Then the machina jumped out onto a crumbling piece of bridge. “Get out this way! Or did you like falling while in an airship?”

I flinched at the memory and flew out, followed by Adair and Nii who climbed out.

Into air.

No land. No bridge. Air.

Everyone was falling. Except me, who was flying until Adair grabbed me by the shirt. “Damn you and your wings!” he cried out. “Well, do something!”

“Like what?”

“LIKE WHAT? YOU’RE A TIME MAGE!”

“WHO’S OUT OF MANA!”

He silenced me by shoving a bottle in my mouth and turning me up, forcing me to take large gulps of a strange tasting liquid to keep from drowning. I coughed roughly while feeling my mana reserves fill up again. Then I hiccupped. “What was in that drink?” I questioned.

“Shut up and slow things!”

I growled and started with Adair since he was adamant on dragging me to his grave. “SLOW!” Nothing happened. "WHY AREN'T YOU SLOWING?"

"Oh, I forgot I was Slowproof," Adair replied too calmly for me to bear. I groaned and cast Slow on a nearby rock, which he grabbed before we could all past it.

The others were out of the airship too, and I could only slow one person at a time.. “SLOW! SLOW! SLOW!”

“Ground’s coming up!” Adair shouted.

“That’s not the ground!” Nii cried as she held onto Kumas and her bit of bridge.

The Behemoth had his mouth wide open for us. But right now the ship was falling faster than us, so it was the first thing to reach its gaping jaws. So we still fell while the fiend got pacified by the ship’s remains.

SPLASH! SPLASH! SPLASH! One by one everyone landed in the river with the debris of the bridge.

“We’re safe!” I said with relief.

The Behemoth spat out the ship and let out a roar that might’ve wet someone’s pants.

“We’re screwed,” Nii groaned.

506 words. 20 Sori posts.

[Weasel Overlord]

Sirius fir Sterrl de Famfræn
[Captain and General Ruler of the Wolfstar]
♫ I can hear you! ♫

A kiss! Well, an epic kiss, but it was what preceded the kiss that would stay with Sirius for quite a few nights (and days) to come. He desperately stifled a crazed laugh at this last. Laughing like a madman just before a battle wasn't exactly the best way to help the morale of your team-mates. But then again, there were lots of things that were on the list of ways to not help the morale of your team-mates.

This list included (and Sirius had kept count);

- doing a wild jig (twice) with a bottle of ale in each hand
- falling over as you charged into battle
- performing an epic rendition of The Quest of the Four Bananas in your best singing voice
- realising that you need the toilet, and proclaiming this fact at the top of your voice
- pointing out the shortcomings of said team-mates
- pointing out just how short on provisions and Potions said team-mates actually were
- Adair swearing
- Adair again
- Adair in general
- having a very loud and prolonged argument with Adair about how they were going to split the loot
- pointing out just how large and pointy and deathly-looking the fangs are, exactly, on that there enemy...

oh dear. Like that enemy. Right there. The big purple one. Sirius had, for a conveniently Selene-tinged few minutes, forgotten about that bloody Behemoth.

However, the more pressing problem suddenly struck Sirius in the face like Adair slapping him in the face with a wet fastitocalon. Only it didn't smell like fish. And it sort of reminded him, somewhat, of those damsel in distress novels he was so secretly fond of as a boy. Selene would not appreciate the comparison, however, and he wasn't so sure that he'd ever actually read a damsel in distress novel where said damsel was just as likely to kick him in the unmentionables as to give him a kiss on the cheek and rub herself up against him like a coeurl in heat. Damn that woman, she sure had her claws in him. But he'd never get a chance to have her actual claws in him (ohoh that was a nice thought, he'd save that for later, yes indeed) unless he jumped straight into some sort of action right now.

Of course, flinging himself forward in a sort of... sliding floor tackle of doom, among broken shards of concrete, and with nothing to hold on to, may not have been the best of plans. Then again, much of Sirius' plans weren't exactly the best ideas. And that's how he made them work.

By flinging himself on top of Selene, apparently.

“Hallo,” he beamed down at her. “This is a sticky situation and no mistake. Sort of reminds me of- ow!”

Selene elbowed him sharply in the ribs. “This is a great plan, oh worldly Captain. Now that you've squashed me to a pulp underneath your hefty,” she paused, looking sideways at him as if to judge his reaction to the next, “bulk, what is it you plan on doing?”

Sirius almost squealed in indignation. “I am not bulky, my good woman!” He pouted, seemingly oblivious to the danger they were in as the slowly tipping concrete slab turned, not-so-slowly, into a quicker tipping concrete slab. “It would be impossible for a Sky Pirate such as myself to be bulky.”

“I agree,” Selene replied. “You spend so much time running away from things, it would be nigh impossible. It must be the weight of your ego crushing me, then. Oh, and the question still stands,” she added, sweetly. “What the hell are you going to do to get us out of this situation?”

“I was thinking we hang on for dear life, oh love of mine, while I guard you with my very life.” He attempted to thump his fist to his heart, but only succeeded in clobbering Selene in the arm. “Or at least, I intend to guard you with my flesh, which is much the same thing. If you know what I mean.” He chuckled dirtily, and Selene glared at him.

“You'd better not grope me, Sirius, or I swear by Venat that I will end you.”

“The thought never entered my head, damsel.”

The faint strains of Selene shouting something along the lines of “I AM NOT A DAMSEL” floated above the sound of their concrete slab finally connecting with the floor, the water and the giant purple Behemoth of doom.

#15 // 784~

[Kurosakura]

~*Lisette Rosencrantz*~
Confounded

The past few moments went by like a blur to Lisette. Something as seemingly harmless as making sure her charge was alright and fixing a dysfunctional cannon with her nemesis, lyra, turned into the Viera (or bunny-kite, as Shayna called her) getting flung off the ascending vehicle and clinging onto her mistress for dear life… which was met with yet ANOTHER fall.

All in all, this was just a typical day in the illustrious life of an Ivalician guard.

Lisette let go of the bit of broken railing she clung onto and before landing more smoothly than most of the others she could see, hearing and feeling droplets water splash onto her as mostly everyone else basically crash landed into the water. Bunny-kite, as Shayna had called her amusingly, hopped around quickly from chunk of debris to chunk debris, casting Cure on whoever needed it at the moment within her immediate surroundings. She scoped around quickly to search for the others amongst the rubble and chanced upon Selene and Sirius, Sirius being a little more than a tad too close to Selene. Just as soon as the giant bunny found them, she delivered a swift kick to Sirius’ shin, knowing well enough that Selene wouldn’t take kindly to her damaging his man parts. Her heel dug into his flesh and left a gaping gash on his otherwise unblemished skin.

The man let out a yelp and hobbled around on one leg, holding his onto wounded shin as a child would, babbling in pain. “Dear Gods, woman, what are you doing?!” he demanded shrilly, garnering some giggles and a chuckle out of the other female.

“A reminder not to get too close to Miss,” she stated curtly and healed the wound in a white-colored flash. “And as for you, Miss, you’re not allowed near this… conniving knave unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

“… why not?” Selene questioned her, confused.

“You cannot control your hormones! Please remember your position as Princess and Judge!”

Her mistress raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

“I have decided that for your own good, you must stay away from this man, for he is detrimental to your health.”

“Uh-huh… and for your own good…”

The Behemoth let out a deafening roar.

SPLASH!

That lunk of a dinosaur pivoted and swished his over-sized, Barney-colored tail at them, missing them ever-so-slightly as they dove for cover and got themselves soaked further. “Well, this isn’t the most desirable of circumstances, your orders, Miss?”

“JUMP, DODGE, DAMMIT! GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE WAY!”

Just as Selene screamed her command, Lyra skidded into a halt and nearly flopped over, panting.

“Captain, just what in the name of Venat do you think you’re doing?” Lisette groaned, crouching behind a slab of concrete to keep from getting flattened.

“Ehehehe… funny thing you should ask…” she stated nervously.

“Oh out with it already!” the Viera demanded impatiently.

“Y’see the Behemoth… Well, let’s just say I think I had a little too much fun and…”

“And?”

“I set his mohawk on fire.”

“…what!?”

~*506 Words/4 Posts*~

[ChobiChibi]

Shayna Xanthrope

The ninja wasn't enjoying the temporary come down from the adrenaline rush she'd had earlier. She was stood with Rusty on nice dry land, since she'd jumped on him once her airship started going down... And yes, it was hers. She'd overheard Sirius and Adair arguing about it earlier, but they were both wrong! She'd stolen it! It belonged to her! Finders keepers!

Shay leaned against her feathered friend, giving herself a chance to catch her breath for a moment. Everyone was now in the water, or stuck on the concrete that had fallen into the water. She had to help, but she didn't want Rusty to get hurt...

“Stay here, okay?” She rubbed his beak before taking off her bag and slipping it around his neck. “Don't loose that either... I'll come back for you.”

“Kweh!” He squawked, grabbing onto her top.

“I'll be fine...” She smiled at him, brushing herself off. “It doesn't hurt a bit, I promise.”

The Chocobo frowned in a way only a Chocobo could and reluctantly let go. She ran to the edge where the bridge had been, reaching behind to grab her shuriken...

Oh, that's right... They weren't there...

She watched the Behemoth splashing around, going to attack the others. They needed a distraction, and now.

She ran back to Rusty, putting the scale back in the bag and grabbed the guns. She hurried back to the edge, took aim...

BANG! BANG! Click…

She pulled the triggers in disbelief. She was out of ammo now?! She'd completely forgotten that these things required refilling every now and again. She hadn't thought to steal any either...

Just wait a second... These weren't her usual weapons... Where were her Shuriken?

She traced her mind back... The last she'd used them was as platforms on the ship... The ship that was now underwater... She glanced between the Behemoth and the water, the concrete and her friends...

“Oh for fucks sake...” Shay muttered, going back to Rusty and this time dragging him to the edge with her. “You stay right here, don't you dare to anything stupid...” She told him, rummaging through her bag. “Where is it...”

Finally, she found what she was looking for. It was some snazzy Al Bhed device she'd stolen for the purposes of playing Blitz Ball that helped the user breath underwater for a long time. She had a horrible feeling that she would indeed be down there for a long time.

“Bye Rusty!” She said before putting the device in her mouth and diving into the water, the sheer drop providing the adrenaline rush again that she so desperately needed.

Ergh... I wish I had goggles... She thought, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the water and the lack of light. It wasn't the cleanest water in the world either, but she pushed that to one side in her mind. She didn't need to worry about that now. She swam as quickly as she could, desperate to find her missing weapons, or the ship at all.

There it was, thankfully. She swam towards the back, pulling them out as fast as she could.

The water trembled around her, the Behemoth was getting closer, its huge stompy feet looming ever closer. She looked up, her shuriken now safe in her hands... It was far too far to swim... The Behemoth would slam into her if she tried to go up... But she wouldn't be fast enough to swim to the edge...

She had an idea... But it wouldn't work underwater, would it? She water shook more as it got closer, so she figured she didn't have much choice in the matter... Her limited Blitz Ball training would help her... After all, what sane person hailing from Luca didn't practise Blitz Ball?!

She danced in the water, spinning her shuriken as fast as possible against the water resistance. She threw them between her hands, over her head, all the while still moving to the imaginary beat in her mind. The water moved with her, as well as shrapnel from the ship and other pointy objects on the riverbed, just as the spell was supposed to. Finally, once she'd built up enough speed, she threw her shuriken at the monster's knees, the two of them together making a whirlpool, the shrapnel and other sharp items getting caught in them.

They split off, two smaller whirlpools of pointy things wrapping themselves around the Behemoth's front legs, cutting and slashing away at them. It stopped moving, she could tell it was flailing around in anger above her, she could feel the water on the surface moving around more than it was down below. Her shuriken came back to her, leaving her whirlpools going a little longer, so she strapped them to her back, giving herself enough time to swim to the surface.

“Oh my god...” She gasped, real air entering her lungs for the first time in ages. Unfortunately, she hadn't quite come up where she had planned. She was far too close to the Behemoth for her liking... Her energy levels began to falter, since she now had the added weight of her weapons on her back, she struggled to keep her head above the water. Her muscles screamed out in agony... She couldn't take much more...

She used the last of her energy to throw her shuriken, lodging them in the nearest slab of concrete, the waves making her aim way off than it should have been. She gave up trying to swim, letting the giant waves carry her, praying for a miracle.

No 17, 942. OH and overdrive gone~

[Crystal Tears]

Selene Solidor

Another swift swipe from the monster caused both Sirius and Selene to dive out of the way. She landed roughly, though she noted whatever she had indeed, landed upon was much softer then the concrete and rubble she had been expecting. Groaning she opened her eyes and found a very familiar pair staring back into hers, and that stupid smirk plastered on his face. Selene’s eyes narrowed.

“Remember that threat from before?”

He nodded, but that smirk was turning into a giddy smile.

“It still applies.”

“I’m it sure my lady, but that doesn’t change how the Gods keep throwing us into this predicaments...”

“Stop smiling.”

“Oh but-“

Selene shifted her weight and quickly lifted herself off of him. Lisette had vanished, and she had quite the nerve to tell the princess who she could flirt with and who not. She was well aware she was fraternizing with a criminal and if she wanted to, she damn well would. So in thought she was that the poor girl bumped right into a man in armor.

“Ow..” Selene grumbled, stepping back and glaring up at Temzi. “Where did you come from?”

“Miss Lisette sent me this way to protect you from all enemies.” His voice almost seemed to gain an edge as he turned his head in the direction of Sirius.

“I assure you my dear metal-clad friend; I am no enemy of her highness.”

“Yes well belay that order or whatever the hell the term is, I order you to defend me from the damn Behemoth not Sirius.”

“You’re too kind milady.” Sirius moved up beside her and smiled. Selene just rolled her eyes and looked at the flailing beast.

“It’s hairs on fire…”

“I believe that was the work of Commander Lyra.” Temzi added on, readying himself.

“No doubt.”

“I believe that’s evidence your little follower is unstable in the brain.” Sirius grinned. “The other is no better, kicking innocent ship captains.”

“Oh yes,” Selene shot him a glare. “As innocent as a kitten, I’m sure.”

“Just as easy to love too.”

Selene snorted in amusement and went back to planning how to end the Behemoth. It was much too focused on killing something in the water to pay them any mind. That was until; it seemed to be satisfied with its angry flailing and stopped, its gaze falling on the trio.

Selene’s body began to move before she spoke. “RUN!”

The beam the creature shot slammed into where they previously were standing. It rocketed Selene though the air, a feeling she had become used too, before she splashed down into the water. Underwater she was dizzy, bubbles zipping by her everywhere until she figured out which was up and followed suit, rushing to the surface.

Selene broke the surface with a gasp, coughing and spitting up water as Sirius slowly recovered from being thrown onto a concrete slab. Slowly he pulled away from the piece of rock and faced her, his nose once again bleeding.

She coughed. “You d-didn’t…”

“I broke my beautiful nose.”

“Again.”

“Yes…” He shot a glare over at the trying to hide her smile Selene. “Again.”

“I’ll fix it later.” She told him with a smirk, clambering out of the water before watching in curiosity as Nii dragged herself out of the water, coughing up water in a similar fashion Selene had before hauling a dazed and soaked Shayna onto the ground. “What the hell happened?”

“Ahahaha….” Shayna laughed, twirling her hand weakly in the air to signal victory. “Sliced up his calves, yessir, Selene aren’t you prroouud of meeee?”

All the Judge could do was raise an eyebrow. “Uh..”

“Nii suspects she hit her head…” They all watched Shay just break out into a giggle fit. “Hard.”

“Seleneee, she’s takin’ me away from da battle!”

“I see that…”

“But I neeeed to fiiiight…”

“No, you ‘neeeed’ to rest.”

“Oh, yes ma’am. Sounds like a good order to mee… Ha ha HI CAPTAIN SIR!”

Sirius just nodded, holding his still bleeding nose.

“Ooohh…” Shay laughed, as Kumas picked her up. She leaned her head back so she was staring at them upside down. “You break your snout again!?”

Sirius looked horrified. “SNOUT!?”

Before the poor girl could insult the captain further, Kumas and Nii carried her away from the fighting. That’s when Selene looked around, frowning in confusion, she stepped up to the edge of the water.

“What’s wrong?” Sirius questioned, though he seemed much more concerned about his noise.

“Where’s…” Selene’s eyes widen as she spotted continues stream of bubbles, and just under the surface she could see an armoured figure, waving his arms madly. “TEMZI!”

* * 782 / 37 * *