|
Post by Kerion on Oct 7, 2009 19:03:48 GMT -5
::After escaping the city of Alexandria::
::Kerion sighs in relief while leaning back in his captain's chair seeing no one was fallowing them:: "That was a close one."
Anya: we were lucky those extremist were only after the city and not you. Had they known you were a wanted criminal, they would made sure we couldn't escape.
"I know. Sometimes I think I'm cursed."
Anya: ::Giggles:: By the way, what are you going to do with our guests?
"I promised they could stick around with us, we are in need of crew members after all."
Anya: Still... I wished we could of saved the queen...
?: Who said he left me behind?
::Anya's eyes widen as she turned to the female dressed in commoner garbs::
Anya: Your highness?! But how!
"I had the idea of sending a body double in her place. I thought someone close to the queen was a traitor and I didn't want to take any chances."
Anya: Planning ahead as always. But queen, you do know you'll also have to pull your full share around here as well.
"Anya is right, you'll also have to help."
Queen: I understand. But if you must call me something, call me Dagger.
Anya: The same alias the previous queen of Alexandria used when she went on her adventure?
Queen: The same one.
"No. It would make your connection to oblivious. Hmm... How about Kusari?"
Queen: Kusari?
"It's a weapon better known as a chain sickle. It's full name is Kusari-Gama."
Kusari: Kusari it is then.
"Excellent. Anya, put the ship on auto-pilot, it's time we know more about the others."
|
|
|
Post by Kerion on Jul 18, 2010 20:44:49 GMT -5
::A few weeks later after escaping Alexandria::
Anya: Kerion, there's a vid message for you.
"Put it on screen Anya."
::The image of a shadowed figure appears on the screen::
"Identify yourself."
? : I'm afraid I can't do that. It would be better for you and your crew if my identity remains anonymous.
"Then I refuse to take a job from someone who's afraid to show his face."
Anonymous: I wouldn't cut the transmission if I were you. I could tell the Socialist Republic of Lindblum where and how to find you. Or I could let Socialist Republic of Alexandria know where the escaped queen and her cohorts are.
::Looks to Anya that says 'start tracing' before looking back::
"IF I was accepting your job, what would it be?"
Anonymous: All you would have to do is pose as a military leader. There's an organization that's looking for a key military mind to lead them. I'm sure they'll eventually contact you offering you the job. Here's what I need you to do: Find out as much as you can about their operations while remaining in their graces. Do this well and you'll be rewarded.
"What good would an award do me, I'll still be a wanted criminal."
Anonymous: This would be a award that you would like. The reward... will be the freedom of you and your crew.
"How?"
Anonymous: I have some powerful friends in the Lindblum government. I can persuade them to drop the charges by having it labeled as a lost cause. As for your crew, I could say that we found the queen and her cohorts dead, even provide fake bodies as proof. What do you say?
"Give me a minute." ::The line is cut:: "How's it going with the trace Anya?"
Anya: No good. I can't trace the signal because it's bouncing all over the place. I tried hacking into the transmission so I can see where it originated, but it recompiles every second, rendering the info I get no good. Who ever this guy is, he's good at preventing from being found out.
"Guess I have no choice. Restore the line"
::The image comes back on::
Anonymous: Ah, I was beginning to feel ignored. I trust you're going to answer my question.
"I have... ::His eye close a moment in thought before opening it again:: I accept. But if I find out this is nothing but a trap..." ::Kerion left the warning open as the transmission was cut:: "Looks like I'm going to join an army, again..."
|
|
|
Post by Guinevere on Aug 9, 2011 23:20:38 GMT -5
(OOC: Was going to go straight to Balamb, but I thought this was too funny an opportunity to pass up. Should be good practice for when Gwen starts running into the other "good guys" again. The ones she's actually stubbed the toes of.)
::Kerion had waited until the ship had actually left to introduce the newest crew member of the Black Jack. With the situation as complicated as it was, he couldn't risk Anya just leaving Gwen behind. But now he was beginning to second guess his strategy due to the dead silence of his crew. Gwen stood in the center of the main hangar in her scarlet gown. Her hazel eyes swivelled uncertainly to each one, but her posture remained true to her status as a lady of high birth::
Good evening. Forgive the formalities, but I don't rekall us ever meeting.
|
|
|
Post by Kerion on Aug 10, 2011 0:23:56 GMT -5
Anya: Kerion, may I speak with you? In private?
::The two walk out of sight::
Kusari: Well, since we're going to be around one another for awhile, guess it's best we made introductions. I'm Kusari, communications.
::BY her tone and the way she held herself, Gwen could tell Kusari was also a lady of high status, but she also had this disalarming air about her, like a natural born leader. the guy wearing a tool belt was next::
??: Benito, maintenance.
??: Joshua, I'm the ships cook.
??: Leia, weapons.
::The other 3 she knew were soldiers by the way they held themselves and wondered where he got this crew from::
::With Anya & Kerion::
Anya: Mind explaining why you brought HER of all people aboard?
"Anya, she was the one that gave me the contract. Turns out it was a ruse to test my skills.
Anya: For what purpose?
"She didn't say. But it has to do with Iole. You know as well as I do she also went underground when the LPA backstabbed her & Oliver when they took over Lindblum. When I see Iole, I'm not going to say 'I told you so'."
Anya: I know. You're way too humble to say that to someone. But back to the original question, why is she here to begin with?
"We might have a lead on someone who might know where Iole is at. I know he isn't from around here."
Anya: How?
"He cursed in a language I didn't understand, and believe me I heard all of them."
Anya: First cause of trouble she makes, she's out while we're still flying.
::As they got back to the others, they seemed to be getting along rather well. Anya approached her and pushed her glasses back up onto her face::
Anya: Look. It's not that I don't trust you, but what exactly did you hire him for? You never stated that to him.
|
|
|
Post by Guinevere on Aug 10, 2011 1:09:23 GMT -5
::When Anya and Kerion returned, they were surprised to find Gwen seated casually with the rest of the crew, looking more like a duchess at a party rather than a woman in the airship of former enemies::
... So then then the angel asks him what he would like to make the speaker say at his funeral. And this man turns to the angel and says "Kan you make him say 'hey look, he's moving!'"
::The crew seemed to enjoy her antecdotes but they quieted down when they caught the intensity of Anya's expression::
Anya: Look. It's not that I don't trust you, but what exactly did you hire him for? You never stated that to him.
::Gwen raised her hazel gaze and met Anya's with a look that was equally penetrating, and a hint of the old Guinevere slithered across her sly smile::
You're lying. It's exaktly that you don't trust me. You must learn to avoid that habit of momentarily looking away from the one you're addressing when you lie. To a trained eye it would give you away in an instant. But who kan blame you for your distrust, after all the things I am guilty of. I do not wish to make this any more diffikult for any of you than it needs to be. But you must understand my need for sekrecy. If what I knew got into the wrong hands, Iole's life would be in serious peril.
(OOC: *sigh* Isn't her life always in serious peril? For someone who avoids killing, Iole's sure pissed a lot of people off.)
|
|
|
Post by Kerion on Aug 10, 2011 1:25:06 GMT -5
(OOC: I'll say...)
Anya: Still...
"Enough of that. We need to set our course."
::At that, everyone got on their feet and saluted.::
Kusari: Where to sir?
"This location." ::Explains the location the guy mentioned::
Kusari: Roger that.
::As the crew walk away to prepare, Gwen heard Kerion speak::
"Shame what happened to their home."
|
|
|
Post by Guinevere on Aug 10, 2011 1:38:02 GMT -5
::Gwen's sympathetic nerves she'd developed in her time at the abbey seemed to have perked at Kerion's statement. She had her suspicions about the crew, having gleaned something of their upbringings from their dialects::
You're all from Alexandria aren't you.
::The Black-Jack which had been clicking and whirring with the activity of the crew as they carried out their duties suddenly died down again::
Well we're probably going to be spending a lot of time together. Perhaps we should learn a little more about each other. I'd prefer things out in the open between friends.
|
|
|
Post by Kerion on Aug 10, 2011 2:41:45 GMT -5
::They went silent before Kerion spoke::
"It's true. They are from Alexandria. Benito, Joshua and Leia are infact the last of the Royal Guard. While Kusari is..."
Kusari: ::Looking away in sadness:: I was Queen of Alexandria before its fall by the extremists.
|
|
|
Post by Guinevere on Aug 10, 2011 3:05:40 GMT -5
::Guinevere, who had been sitting closest to Kusari, wrapped her snow white hand around the hand of the former queen::
I heard of what happened. After I regained my memory, I had a battle of my own to stop Treno from falling in the same way. What a strange world we live in now. So unstable. So uncertain. One day you're a queen, the pinnakle of your society, respekted by kountless faithful subjekts. Then your place is removed from under your feet and you're in new territory, on the run with a mercenary, and a fugitive in his own right.
::Anya sneered at the witch as Kusari begain to tremble at Guinevere's words::
Anya: That's enough.
::But the Witch went on as if she hadn't heard her::
And here I am, a former terrorist, a Witch, someone who once stood for anarkhy, the antithesis of what decent leaders like you had established in your kingdoms. Yet now I'm here with you in this airship, and we're talking like we were old friends. The absolutes of the past are krumbling. Kingdoms are desolving, giants are falling, enemy and ally are almost impossible to tell apart. And amidst all the skreams the gods are appearing to be the worst demons of all, sitting bakk and watching the world burn.
::A strange chill hung in the air at Gwen's words. Her voice had gained an odd almost echoing quality, like she were projecting her thoughts onto each one of them. Then like the snap of a finger her mood lightened. And with her it seemed the room did so as well::
Oh listen to me go on. You would think I were an old woman. So Kerion, how long until the rendevouz with our mutual friend?
::She leaned back in her chair, twirling her pale fingers idly through the silver chain around her neck, from which hung a small but glistening scarlet and gold phoneix pendant::
|
|
|
Post by Kerion on Aug 10, 2011 3:57:08 GMT -5
"Not sure. HAL, how long until we reach our destination?"
HAL: In about one hour captain we reach the Crystal Gate. Then I'll recalculate the route to your destination.
((OOC: Incase you didn't know, HAL is actually an A.I inside the ship))
|
|
|
Post by Guinevere on Aug 10, 2011 15:15:11 GMT -5
(OOC: I kind of figured that since you spelled his name in all caps)
::Just over the horizon, the gleam from the Crystal Gate to the next world catches the light of the Sun::
This will be the first time I've gone bakk to the Eighth world since I lost my memory. Should be fun.
(OOC: Okay I'll set up the upcoming thread soon)
|
|
|
Post by Kerion on Aug 10, 2011 15:16:52 GMT -5
((OOC: Alrighty))
|
|
|
Post by Kerion on Aug 15, 2011 15:08:53 GMT -5
::After picking up Gideon::
"Welcome aboard the Blackjack. Don't let it looks fool you, it's faster than it looks." Kerion said as they stepped aboard.
|
|
Gideon Lightfeather
Experienced Novice
No matter what world I am on, one thing is always the same; What is good, and what is evil.
Posts: 97
|
Post by Gideon Lightfeather on Aug 15, 2011 15:14:04 GMT -5
::Gideon stepped into the main deck with grace::
I wouldn't know how it's supposed to look. I'm not all that familiar with airships. Those are the Moon Elves' field of expert... ex... how do you say it? Expertness?
Gwen: Expertise.
::growls something in Elven:: I really hate this language. So where exactly is our heading?
Anya: Ah what the hell?! You picked up another one?!
|
|
|
Post by Kerion on Aug 15, 2011 15:49:40 GMT -5
"Long story Anya. I'll explain on the way to Leah Garden."
Anya: Why Leah Garden?
"Our assumption that our new friend knows where Iole would be was a bust. Now we're going to go to the places she frequents the most when she comes back from her trips to who knows where. Leah Garden is at the top of that list."
|
|
|
Post by Iole on Aug 15, 2011 18:18:29 GMT -5
(OOC: I really hope you don't mind when I take over your secondary characters like Anya to move things along. If it gets on your nerves, let me know. Some posters are real particular about that)
Anya: We're a business here, not a freaking hotel!
::But Anya was apparently too frustrated to argue the hazards of taking not only a former enemy, but now a complete stranger on board any further::
Anya: You know what, fine. Whatever. Setting coordinates for Leah Garden.
::She stomped to the main controls before shoving Benito unceremoniously out of the control seat::
(OOC: Hey I just thought of this. Where's Maria?)
|
|
|
Post by Kerion on Aug 15, 2011 22:00:25 GMT -5
((OOC: As previously stated, staying with someone while she attends school))
"Sorry about her." Kerion said. "Anya is normally more calmer than this."
|
|
Gideon Lightfeather
Experienced Novice
No matter what world I am on, one thing is always the same; What is good, and what is evil.
Posts: 97
|
Post by Gideon Lightfeather on Aug 15, 2011 22:10:02 GMT -5
::Gideon nodded as the rest of the crew went about their duties. While everyone was busy, he walked with Kerion and spoke in a voice that wouldn't allow them to be overheard::
She's not the one I'm worried about.
::He nodded towards Gwen::
In part I agree with that one. You said she used to be your enemy. Why is it you trust her so implicitly?
|
|
|
Post by Kerion on Aug 15, 2011 22:43:19 GMT -5
"I know what it's like to be distrusted because of your past. Imagine everyone judging you just because of your past. You would be constantly alone, willing to take anyone side that offered the slightest bit of kindness, no matter how evil that person or thing is. I know because it also happened to me after I left the army. But unlike Gwen, I had no one to reassure that what I did in my past is only the past."
|
|
Gideon Lightfeather
Experienced Novice
No matter what world I am on, one thing is always the same; What is good, and what is evil.
Posts: 97
|
Post by Gideon Lightfeather on Aug 15, 2011 23:40:15 GMT -5
::Gideon shrugged::
I suppose one would need a past to understand that. So tell me about this Leah Garden? What do they grow there, and how will it help us find the twerp?
|
|