Cid’s airship hovered peacefully over the Calm Lands. Several people walked along the grass towards the airship. A boy about sixteen years of age, stood with his hands balled up into fists, on his hips. He had blonde hair, looking slightly messy and wore a Zanarkand Abes blitzball team necklace. He wore a light, yellow vest, that had a white hood on the back of it. On his left arm he wore a blue, leather, shoulder guard, with a red, lace elbow guard at the end of it. On his forearm, he had a gold forearm guard, that extended over his hands and fingers as well, and underneath the forearm guard was a bronze flexibal chain plate. On his right arm, he wore a single, black glove, and other than the sleeve from the vest, that was all that was on his arm and shoulder. In a very large hilt, behind his back, that had a strap over his shoulder going down to his waist, there was a sword called the Caladbolg.
It was a light blue sword, with ancient scripture, and pictures all over it. It wasn’t a smoothly cut sword. Instead, it was purposely cut jaggedly, to tear at whoever wield it’s opponents.
Besides the black glove on his right hand, the boy also wore black leather over-alls, that had a zipper down the middle. He had a belt going around it as well, that being the place where his waist was apparently. It was a black belt with a silver buckle.
The black, leather overalls, didn’t go down to his feet though. The stopped half-way down his upper leg. That’s where his shorts came in. He had a pair of short shorts on that were black as well, although they weren’t leather. And on the right leg he had an extra part of the shorts sewn onto his short shorts, that had a red and yellow Zanarkand Abes blitzball insignia on it.
And finally, he wore black socks on his feet, and had yellow hiking boots on, even though the boy never really hiked.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the boy said, “My name is Tidus Summers, but you guys can just call me Tidus. Now, before we meet the captain of the airship, I want you all to run through you’re names again one more time to make sure we’re on the same page here.”
Lulu was the first to speak. She was wearing what she was wearing just yesterday, only she seemed slightly more shy. She had her hands behind her back, and had a cute little smile, obviously enjoying the “cuteness” of Tidus.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Lulu,” Lulu said, still staring at Tidus.
Kimarhi stood up straight, with his hands curled up into fists like Tidus’s only much bigger, and had them resting on his hips. He showed no sign of emotion whatsoever, and said: “Kimarhi.”
Wakka was resting on the ground looking around curiously, wondering what he was doing here.
“I don’t know what’s goin’ on around here, but my names Wakka. I’m the ex-cap’n of the Besaid Aurochs,” Wakka said.
Yuna, who already knew who the pilot was, and had been on the airship several times before saluted, and smiled cheerfully.
“Yuna reporting for duty Tidus.”
“Knock it off, Yuna,” Tidus said with a smile.
A long staircase extended out of the bottom of the airship. Tidus was the first to walk onto it. Yuna soon followed, and then Wakka, and then Lulu and then Kimarhi.
“There’s no denying you’ve got a beautiful airship here, ya? But what kind of captain gathers a group of people like us, ya?” Wakka asked.
“The kind who wants a fighting chance against Yevon, and Sin, I’d imagine. All five of us are about to meet the leader of the Al Bhed, and if you want to stay after hearing his offer, then you have to work for him as well. We’ll be defying Yevon, and trying to defeat Sin. But you’ll also have a roof over your head, plenty of food, and not have to be persecuted by other people because they think you’re crazy, or because you’re a summoner, or maybe even because you’re an ex-captain of the Besaid Aurochs,” Tidus explained.
Once everyone was inside the airship, Tidus led everyone up a ramp leading away from some sort of machine. Judging by the amount of noise, and the slight shaking of the machine, what they were walking away from was in fact, the engine. There were a lot of Al Bhed in the engine room. Six of them, in fact. Three of them were sitting down on the ground, resting. One of them was leaning against the engine, apparently not minding the shaking of it. Finally, the other two were jogging up and down on the ramp, exercising.
“Aren’t you worried these Al Bhed will tell someone you’re running a safehouse for illegal Ronso?” Kimarhi asked trying to point out the fact that he may be a danger to everyone else.
“Not in the slightest, Kimarhi. These fine gentleman work for me,” said a loud hoarse voice from the loudspeaker. Tidus and Yuna were unfazed, but Wakka, Lulu, and Kimarhi were all startled.
“Plus, we don’t want those Yevonites raiding our airship,” the voice continued.
“Is it just Kimarhi or is there some creepy guy talking about Yevonites?” Kimarhi asked.
Tidus led Yuna, Wakka, Lulu, and Kimarhi into a hallway, with three other Al Bhed by the wall talking. The hallway was lit up, with pink, purple, green, yellow, blue, and red lights, coming out of the sides of the floor and ceiling. There was a door on the right, and a panel to the left of it. Tidus took off his glove and placed his right hand onto the panel. The panel glowed bright green for a moment, and then the door to the right of it opened. Yuna led Wakka, Lulu, and Kimarhi in. Tidus filed in from the back.
In here was a much shorter hallway in length. The walls were black, with tin grates going along the sides of the floors, covering little blue lights. At the end of it was a black door, that didn’t have any handles or doorknobs of any kind whatsoever on it.
“Come in, my friends. Join me for a Perrier in the cockpit,” the voice over the loudspeaker said again, as Yuna walked forward. The door automatically slid open, and Tidus was the first the follow Yuna. Wakka out of sheer curiosity and amazement, came in second. Kimarhi was curious as well, so he followed Wakka. Finally, because she didn’t want to be left behind, Lulu followed as well.
“My name is Captain Cid Xavier. You’ll have to forgive me for not bringing you hear myself,” said a man standing in front of a blue globe. The man was bald, and seemed to be middle-aged. He wore yellow and light-brown tights, that had long sleeves, and a zipper down the middle. He wore blue, light-brown, and yellow boots, the tip, being blue, the heel being brown, and the rest being yellow.
“This might sound like a stupid question, ya? But is a room still a cockpit if it doesn’t have a pilot?” Wakka asked.
Lulu eyed the Cid suspiciously waiting for an answer.
“I’m afraid, the technology on this airship has reached the point where it doesn’t need a pilot, Wakka. Instead, I use this digital globe and that control panel over there to pilot this ship. Only in emergencies do I use the manual controls,” Cid answered gesturing to his left.
There was a control panel with many dials, buttons, and switches on it, with a single blue screen in the front of it.
“Fascinating,” Wakka replied.
“No, what’s fascinating is that two grown people are talking to this man without even knowing why they are here. I’m grateful for the roof over my head while all this anti-black mage hysteria is going on outside, but could you please explain what you want from us?” Lulu asked.
“Ah, yes. I still haven’t explained that have I? You’re here because of an old friend of mine, named Seymour,” Cid said.
“I thought you said you had nothing to do with Seymour,” Lulu said.
“On the contrary, my dear. There was a time when Seymour and I were like brothers. I was the one who helped him build his Guado and Al Bhed sanctuary in that lost, forgotten desert. A refuge for anyone seeking respite from the kind of persecution we had always faced. For a while, it seemed like our little hiding place in Omega Ruins was as close as Yunalesca’s Spira could ever come to the Farplane,” Cid explained, “But sadly, nothing lasts forever.”
“What went wrong?” Kimarhi asked.
“Let’s just say Seymour and I had something of a falling out,” Cid answered.
Cid could remember the pain. He was running for his life through the woods. It was at the beach that the pain from Anima’s Pain attack stuck him. He fell to the ground, with a soft thud. There was a huge gash on the right side of his body. It went from his leg, all the way up to his ribs. He couldn’t even remember how he survived…
“As in he wanted the Guado to overthrow the status quo and you had the temerity to disagree with him?” Wakka asked.
“Precisely. I’ve long held the opinion that the only guarantee in a confrontation between man and Guado is extinction on both sides. That’s why I escaped here and formed this school. And why it was so essential that I found you before he did. Make no mistake, children: We’re here to stop a war,” Cid answered.
“How did you manage to find us, anyway? Kimarhi always been pretty careful about covering his tracks,” Kimarhi said.
“The same way I found the young man who said he was from the Zanarkand Abes and the sixteen-year-old girl who could summon aeons, Kimarhi. The computer over there, that I pointed out earlier. The digital globe behind me allows me to pick anyplace on Spira I want to go, but that computer over there allows me to pick the exact spot that I want it to go. It gives me a closeup of whichever spot I choose, in case there may be danger waiting for me when I land, or if perhaps in fact there is no place to land, like I chose a gorge or something. And plus, it certainly gives me a head over Seymour’s currently using to locate recruits for his non-Guado henchmen. I was actually just in the middle of using it the search for another potential member to our team when I heard Tidus drawing up in the people carrier outside. A twenty-five-year-old man who ran away from home when he realized he may be qualified as a traitor of Yevon, terrified that his roommates might get hurt if Yevon soilders attacked his suburban home. His name, I believe, is Gippal Drake, but I’m afraid I don’t know what useful ness he may have to us yet.”
Merely an hour later, Yuna, Lulu, Tidus, Kimarhi, and Wakka were all on the Djose Highroad searching for Gippal. All five of them were given a two way radio so they could keep in contact with each other. They wore it over there ears, and there was a small mike attached to it, that curved around in front of the mouths, kind of like a cell phone headset.
It was very busy today. Busier than usual. Just their luck, for the Djose Highroad to be busy, while they were looking for one person. It was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
“I must be out of my mind: It’s Saturday night and I’m prowling the Djose Highroad looking for some blonde guy. Remind me how Cid talked me into this again, Tidus?” Lulu asked.
The whole team split up in the search for Gippal. They figured it made more sense, that way they could cover more ground. Yuna and Lulu went together, Tidus and Kimarhi went together, and Wakka went alone.
“Because you know what it’s like to be on the run, Lulu. Besides, could you really lie around watching T.V. while this poor guy gets barbecued in the next Sin attack?” Tidus asked.
“Barbecues off the menu, Tidus. I’ve just spotted Gippal thirty feet away from me and the only thing he’s in danger of is a sore foot from walking,” Wakka explained.
“Not from where I’m standing, people. Turn around,” Yuna ordered.
There stood Sin. His ugly face staring down upon the people on the Djose Highroad not even a mile away. 5 Sinscales launched off of Sin’s back.
“Tidus to Wakka: I know you haven’t been trained for this, man, and I hate to throw you in at the deep end, but…”
“I know, I know…” Wakka muttered into the radio. A lot of people were running and screaming everywhere. Eight of them were running in Wakka’s direction. He had to fight his way through the crowd, to get to Gippal.
Gippal was running for his life the other way, when he tripped on a rock. He fell face forward, onto the hard ground. A Sinscale landed right behind him, and opened up, flicking it’s fangs, side-to-side.
“Perils of being the big monkey-like guy on any team, Tidus,” Wakka said diving under the Sinscale.
The Sinscale’s wings started to flicker. Despite Gippal’s size, Wakka still managed to lift Gippal up with one arm, and run about half as fast as normal. Good thing he was a really fast runner because a spike shot out, and landed on the ground right where Gippal was.
“But all the blitzballs in the world aren’t going to save now that this Sinscale’s after me. Any chance of some backup be me and Gippal’s obituaries appear in the morning papers?” Wakka asked.
“Backup are having their arms twisted right now, Wakka. Good work, by the way,” Tidus said through the radio.
Back at the South End of the Djose Highroad, Tidus, Yuna, Lulu, and Kimarhi were gathered. Tidus seemed very serious and determined. He cleared his throat to speak. Yuna had a bright happy smile on her face, while Lulu was terrified. Kimarhi stood the farthest away, with his arms folded across his chest showing no sign of emotion.
Yuna pulled out her Nirvana rod. It had a bluish-whitish handle with two redish-yellowish strings attached to the end of it. The tip had a pink and gold butterfly, made out of gold on it. It was very beautiful. If it wasn’t used for a weapon you would think it was a priceless piece of art.
Lulu pulled out her Onion Knight. It was a stuffed animal with a fake, soft, stuffed pumpkin head for a hat. It had a silver cone tip, with a tiny yellow flag on it. The color of it’s skin was almost human like. It had slanted, brown eyebrows, with big green eyes. It had baise clothes on with orange and yellow armor, on it’s upper body and shoulders. It had orange gloves on both it’s hands. In it’s right hand in had a teeny tiny, rubber sword, and in it’s left hand it had a teeny tiny, plastic shield. It also wore orange and yellow armored shoes, and finally had a little yellow cape, coming out of the back.
Finally, Kimarhi pulled out his Spirit Lance. It had a brown handle, with a small yellow tip. Gold and yellow feathers were glued to the top of the lance, right under the sharp part of it. It was a stainless steel, gold, white, and orange painted tip; very jagged, and carefully made. Not many could wield such a weapon as this.
“Okay, I know the circumstances are hardly ideal to see if our teamwork’s up to scratch, but Yuna and I can’t do this alone. I’m just praying you guys are half as good as Cid seems to think you are,” Tidus explained. “Yuna, support Kimarhi with Cure magic. Kimarhi, kill those two on your left. Lulu, you stick with me.”
“Forget it, Tidus. You don’t understand The last time I tried to use my powers I almost electrocuted an entire play ground full of twelve-year-olds,” Lulu explained.
“This isn’t open to debate, Lulu. You either pitch in and help or we’re all sleeping in a shallow grave tonight,” Tidus explained. “I don’t have time to get on my knees here.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll give it a try,” Lulu said. But don’t blame me if I wipe out the Djose Highroad by mistake.”
The clouds in the sky turned gray. Another Sinscale landed nearby. Thunder boomed, and lightning struck.
KRAAAAAAAAAK! Three Sinscales were struck down.
“Whoa! So much for the girl who couldn’t control her powers. You just took out three Sinscales in a single strike,” Tidus said turning to Lulu. “Lulu? Oh, shit.”
Lulu layed on the ground, with her hands over her head. She was unconscious and her head was facing the sky.
“Kimarhi to Wakka: You still need that backup?” Kimarhi asked through the radio.
A spike shot out of a Sinscale’s mouth and punctured the wall where Wakka was.
“Actually, everything’s pretty much under control again now that I’m accustomed to Gippal’s extra hundred and thirty pounds. You might want to lend Yuna a hand though. She looks pretty stressed for such an easy-going girl,” Wakka suggested.
“What? We’re the ones who’re completely surrounded,” Gippal said.
Wakka came to a screeching halt as a Sinscale jumped in front of him.
“Take it easy, Gippal. I’ve been getting shot at since my old man used to come home drunk and take potshots at me when I was sleeping in my crib,” Wakka replied.
The Sinscale that was behind him stopped. That Sinscale and the Sinscale behind him’s wings started to flicker.
“You learn a few good tricks when you’ve been a target all your life,” Wakka muttered.
Wakka immeadietly ducked when he saw the wings start to flicker, dragging Gippal down with him. The spikes shot out of the mouths, and struck the opposite Sinscale. They both dropped dead. Wakka got up, and helped Gippal to his feet. Together they continued to run along the Djose Highroad.
“I can’t believe we’re still alive here, Yuna. Are we down to the last Sinscale or have I still got blood in my eyes?” Tidus asked over the radio.
“Down to the last two, Tidus,” Yuna answered. “Turns out Lulu only took out two Sinscales with that lightning strike, and the other was badly wounded. I summoned Valefor and am fighting it off right now.”
“Yuna! Stand back!” Kimarhi shouted.
Kimarhi used his Lancet ability to finish off the Sinscale. With the energy he got from that Sinscale, he felt brand new. Suddenly, a Sinscale punctured Kimarhi’s leg. Kimarhi let out a grunt, and fell to the ground clutching his lower leg.
“Kimarhi!” Tidus yelled.
Tidus had Lulu swung over his back.
“Over here you piece of trash!” Tidus exclaimed, using a fire spell to distract the Sinscale.
He dropped Lulu to the ground.
Yuna ran over to Kimarhi and came to his aid. She cast a Cure spell, and then tried to help Kimarhi pull the spike out. Valefor landed next to her and watched intently.
Tidus’s sword was in his hilt. The Sinscale ran over to Tidus, and pinned him down on the ground.
“Good boy,” Tidus muttered.
Wakka and Gippal finally arrived.
The Sinscale launched it’s face at Tidus’s, but hit dirt when Tidus rolled onto his side.
“I know what you’re thinking, incidentally. You think the only way I can attack you is by hitting you with a fire spell, don’t you?” Tidus asked.
Tidus slid his sword out of it’s hilt.
“Bad news, dumbass.”
Tidus stabbed the Sinscale’s jaw with his Caladbolg, and it went straight through his head.
Suddenly, a Sinspawn thrust out of the ground. It was big and black, and had tentacles at the top. It seemed to be covered in this sort of transparent blue saliva, that glimmered occasionally.
“Think fast, Yuna!” Tidus shouted.
“You’re covered, Tidus,” Yuna said casting a protect spell on Tidus. “It’s the people that things launching it’s tentacles at I’m panicking about now. Go, Valefor! Kill it!”
The Sinspawn launched one of it’s tentacles at a little boy, crouched on the ground, crying, about 500 feet away.
“So what are you doing standing around? Do something!” Tidus yelled.
“But Valefor isn’t fast enough! It can’t get to the tentacle in time.
“OH MY GOD!” Tidus screamed.
The tentacle was nearly upon the little boy.
Gippal looked around. He saw a large machine on the ground. He recognized it too. It was one of the new Al Bhed weapons. It was called the launcher. You pull the trigger and it launched napalm. He rushed over to it, slung it over his shoulder, and aimed.
“WILL EVERYBODY SHUT UP AND JUST GET DOWN?!!” Gippal screamed.
Gippal pulled the trigger, and a ball of flame shot out and made a bulls-eye on the Sinspawn. Not even a foot away from the boy, was the tentacle, when the pyreflies left it.
“Way to go, Gippal Drake,” Yuna said thoroughly impressed.
Valefor turned back around and landed by Yuna. Yuna patted Valefor’s beak and then Valefor took off.
“Did… Did… Was that me?” Gippal asked.
“Ladies and gentlemen, a round of applause for Gippal, please,” Wakka said grabbing Gippal’s free arm and launching it into the air.
KLEEEESH! A beer bottle smashed into Gippal’s head.
Wakka turned to the culprit.
“You just split his head open, you idiot!” Wakka exclaimed, angrily.
Gippal put his hand on his head where he was hit. There was blood pouring down the side of his face.
“Good! I hope he’s dead! Maybe then blitzball players like you will finally get the message!” the culprit shouted.
It was an old lady dressed in a brown fur coat.
“Are you people insane? This man just saved your lives!” Yuna exclaimed, glaring at the crowd of people joining the old lady in throwing things.
“Yuna, let it go. It’s not worth it. Let’s just get out of here,” Tidus exclaimed pulling Yuna away.
Tidus was the first to leave the jeering crowd. He simply walked away ignoring the commoners. Wakka was the second to leave running after Tidus with Lulu in his arms. Then Kimarhi limping away, with Yuna jogging behind him.
Gippal took one last look at the jeering crowd. Tears welled up in his eyes. A Yevon soldier fired a bullet at Gippal. Fortuanetly, it just barely missed his head. Then Gippal sprinted after the others.
“Contrary to what we might have believed, it seems out old friend Cid Xavier is alive and well, gentlemen,” a sinister high pitched voice said.
“Seriously? I mean, I recognized Yuna Grey and a couple of the others we were after, but I didn’t see Cid in any of the news footage, Seymour,” another voice said, though more Al Bhedish, and in a lower tone.
“An organized cell of outcasts risking their lives for a few grinning primates? He might as well have signed the bottom of the screen, Brother,” Seymour replied.
“The arms dealers are waiting upstairs, Seymour,” the man from the video on the news a few days earlier before said. His face was covered in shadow.
“Ah, the fat, little Guado who managed to lose my rod. Tell him to wait in the music room, Barthello. I’m going to watch the videotape again,” Seymour ordered.
A few minutes later, Seymour came down, followed by four people. The Barthello, the girl from the video several days ago, and two other people.
“Oh, Seymour. How can I ever thank you for giving me this chance to explain, sir?” the hooded Guado from a few days past before said.
“I’m afraid you misunderstand, Ahmed. I didn’t grant you this audience to listen to your stuttering, half-baked excuses. You’re here to be made an example of, little man,” Seymour explained. “Tell me: Are you still fitted with that pacemaker after a lifetime of overreacting and neglect?”
“Yes, but I don’t see what that’s got to do with…”
Seymour thrust his hand through the Guado.
“Oh God,” the Guado said.
Seymour dragged the pacemaker out and dropped it on the ground.
The Guado covered the hole in his body with his long fingers, and clumped to the ground.
“Clean up the mess, Dona,” Seymour ordered the girl from the tape from several days ago.
“Cid has resurfaced, Barthello,” Seymour said putting his arm around Barthello’s neck. “Just as I always knew he would. He’s established a little power base for himself and assembled a rival camp to our own.”
“Just tell me where he is and I promise he’ll be dead between the next two days, sir,” Barthello said.
“Oh, shut up, Barthello. Cid would close have you killed before you reached Bevelle. I need a qualified assassin to find him and kill him before he recruits any other people to his naïve intergrationist ideals…”
A massive black side, with orange runes on it dropped down on top on a fiends head, in the desert. A man with graying hair on the sides lifted the heavy sword back up, and put it in it’s hilt.
“Tell Auron he has a new assignment.”
Auron then fixed his glasses so they were sitting on his nose straight.
Thanx for reading
Sephistrife15
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