Hollow Bastion had certainly changed, there was no doubt of that.
His ship had found it none the less, though it was scarcely recognizable from what he'd been told of. It seemed obvious why it now went by its original name; Radiant Garden.
He peered through his lenses to see the tracks the soldier's spoke of. There they were and heading straight into town. The only problem was that his forces had no influence in these parts. Whether Ansem the Wise or Maleficent ruled here he could not say, though he suspected the former than the latter. It shouldn't have to come to them anyway. He was here for a different purpose.
His squad had boarded from a single ship and they landed well outside of the city in the high blue mountains. Since they had jammed any and all communications upon entering it's orbit, they should be unnoticed. This world was certainly advanced as opposed to other's he'd had seen and heard of. After landing they exited the ship. Some of them fell in around him; they're white armor contrasting to his black. Others went to patrol for signs of what they came here for.
He knew it was here. He could feel it. And yet he could feel other things as well. Darkness.. and Light. Both converging here on this world. Perhaps he should look into this. It was just as important as the droid.
His thoughts were taken from him when they called his name.
"We've found more tracks sir" the commander then told him. Following him he saw exactly what he meant. Small grooves of tracks made by a robot trekking across the ground and through the mountains where they landed, and heading straight for town. Accompanying them was a pair of footprints.
"Well, well, well" his deep voice said softly through heavy breathes "what have we here?". He raised a boot to follow the tracks.
The Marketplace
Recenlty Hollow Basti- Radiant Garden he had to keep reminding himself to call his home world by its rightful name. Not that it mattered since with the influx of 'visitors' or 'stragglers' as he put it, it was practically another Traverse Town.
Scrooge McDuck was still in the marketplace; said markets being run by his nephews and niece with Launchpad having been brought in to help create 'McDuck airlines'. Scrooge owned pretty much everything here. Aren't monopolies illegal? And there was the good doctor Ludwig Von Drake who came with them and he helped the committe when asked. However he was too busy at this time to help them so with nothing to do, but wait Leon headed back to headquarters.
In truth the ducks with the exception of the last two weren't really a problem. But that didn't mean there wasn't a fair share.
Brom Bones for example would occasionally cause trouble for them and he was stronger than him, Leon knew that. If it was a straight up fist fight Brom would win without taking it too seriously, but if Leon had his gun blade he would win hands down.
But thankfully he didn't have any such problems like that today. Yet.
Leon walked through the town, all these things and even more running through his mind. But most importantly was they're security system still wasn't working. Not being a wizard or even tech savvy there was little he could do about it and that feeling of helplessness didn't sit well with him. He felt it once and didn't want to again. The thing even more puzzling was there was no explanation for it. It just sort of.. stopped working. Needless to say he was just a little bit irritated by all this and it seemed like the simplest, littlest, even pettiest thing would set him off.
He then found that thing when his legs hit against something hard.. from behind.
"Eh" he grunted and winced in pain. He snapped around and turned to see just what exactly it was. "What's the big id-" he stopped mid sentence, confused when he found no one to stare at. That was until he looked down "Oh it's you".
In front of him, but more like beneath- and not in a bad way- was the short little cubicle on wheels ogling him with two googly eyes.
"WALL-E" he said his own name. He then motioned over to all the trash he has since converted into blocks.
'Say what you want about him' Leon thought 'He gets the job done' He's been they're replacement trash compactor since he arrived and Cid's program shorted out on them. Funny how things worked out isn't it?
Maybe he has a friend somewhere who could be a backup security system.
Right now the robot looked up to him with a clear sense of wanting. And he always wanted one thing in particular; approval. Something Leon wasn't exactly the best at giving.
"Yeah um.. good job" he congratulated him rather glumly. That pleased WALL-E as he raised his little arms in triumph and held onto his "membership" card even more affectionately. Leon then turned around to continue on his way. The sound of cogs turning and wheels rolling over the pavement told him that Wall-E was going right along with him. Loking down at the corner of his eyes he could see he was gleefully rolling alongside with him.
Rolling his eyes he continued on his way ignoring the beeps, boops and occasional "Whoa's!" from his new companion as best he could. The loudest and hardest one to ignore was when they came to they're-No! His destination.
Merlin's House. He would have had the pleasure to enter if he hadn't been interrupted.
"Aww" a woman's voice fawned from behind "you two look so cute together". Once again and this time in unison with WALL-E, he turned around in to see who it was though he already knew. He turned in annoyance and WALL-E in curiosity. There he saw Tifa Lockheart.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"Well that doesn't sound very friendly" she said putting her hands on her hips.
"Yeah" he lowered his head, his eyes hiding behind his hair " I guess it wasn't". Just his sort of way to apologize.
"Hm" she let out "I'm just not sure who talks less out of you two" she pointed between him and WALL-E who seemed to ponder the question himself. Stumping the robot, but not Leon who knew this was just a veil to the real issue she wanted to talk about. "I think he likes you" she said playfully. He looked down at the robot who looked back at him with a profound look of wonder and amazement. Something he could do without.
"I'm not sure about that" he simply brushed her comment off much to WALL-E's displeasure. There were a few more moments of silence between then. He was certain he could continue on his way so he turned around, but she finally asked what was always on her mind.
"Have you found him yet?" she eventually asked and he stopped dead in his tracks. She just doesn't stop does she?
He took in a deep breath. It wasn't easy telling someone the same answer each time. No
"Like I've said" he took a pause before turning to face her "When I do... I'll let you know"
She opened her mouth to say something, but thought against it. Instead she just firmly nodded. He looked her over for a little more, now thinking everything to be alright and he put his back to her again.
"You don't mind if I ask anyone else do you?" she blurted from behind. Tensed up and turning a head over his shoulder to look at her pleading eyes, it was WALL-E who answered instead with a fervent shaking of his head. "Alright, thanks" she said before walking around the two of them before entering the house and not even keeping the door opened for either of them.
Leon turned his gaze down at the tiny robot who now cowered at the sight of him. "Now we'll never be rid of her" he said through grinded teeth as WALL-E continued shaking. But seeing the naïve little robot clatter in fear of his own shadow some how made Leon feel something just now. Not guilt, well maybe a little, but more like an assertiveness. Maybe he had taken it too far this time. He took in another deep breathe and exhaled.
"Let's just get inside" he said to him. No longer afraid WALL-E ecstatically rolled up to the door and tried to open it for Leon. He tried with all his might, but he was just not tall enough to grab the handle and he had no toes to give him an extra reach. "Let me get that for you" Leon said blandly as he opened the door for his new companion. He rolled into the house and Leon followed behind him, closing the door when he entered.
Just as the door closed a platoon of white armored soldiers marched through the street.
Inside he was bombarded with a series of greetings, conversation starters- which he immediately ended- plots, problems, and people all at once. It was hard for him to keep track of it all and he often confused who he was talking to. Luckily WALL-E was there and was more than eager- willingly apparently- to take some of the heat away from him.
Turns out he had more use than one.
As Yuffie and Aerith fawned at the little trash compactor, Leon gained the opportunity to talk to someone with sense; Cid. He maneuvered past the others to talk to they're tech wizard. However he too seemed occupied as he was in a conversation than none other than Tifa. Leon already knew who they were talking about just by the low voices they were using.
The second she realized some one else noticed them talking she froze in place. She straightened herself out and put her hands innocently behind her back.
"Just asking around like I told you" she stated simply as she ran a hand through her hair trying to appear relaxed. He silently acknowledged without letting her know hw knew the truth before turning to Cid.
"How's it working now?" A grizzled look came over Cid's old face and there were noticeable chunks taken out of his toothpick.
"Not any better than when you left" he said turning around and turning his attention back to the computer. Leon stepped forward and looked at it over his shoulder. "Darn thing's been on the fritz all day" he rambled his frustration visibly scaring WALL-E. Something Yuffie scolded him for. "Even Tron can't explain it" Cid continued on ignoring her continued protest. Aerith, Yuffie and WALL-E now came over to join the two of them. "Did the good doctor find any time for us?"
"He said he'd stop by later" Leon told blandly.
"Well we can't do anything now!" a defeated Cid placed his hands on his knees.
"LETMETRY!" Yuffie jumped over Cid and began furiously pushing buttons much to his dismay. He tried shaking her not only off the computer while Aerith laughed. Leon watched in surprisingly amusement as WALL-E nestled up against his leg.
In all this commotion Tifa slunk to the back of the room; away from everyone else.
Looking down at WALL-E Leon noticed him seemingly finding humor in what has unfolded before him. He pointed at them and then looked up to Leon as if he was going to explain it to him.
"It's too complex for me to explain" he shrugged. WALL-E pointed again and Leon noticed it was the computer he was confused by, not strangely enough the people. Leon looked closer and it seemed like something was coming through the static. "Hold it!" he shouted freezing everyone in place and making WALL-E cower once more. He took a few steps forward to try to get a better view of it. "Looks like you did something back there" he said aloud, but thanked Yuffie. "Good eyes" he said turning back to WALL-E who stopped cowering and crept forward with a renewed interest.
They all stared entranced by what they tried to see on the screen through the static. It was difficult to make out, but it was a man.. or at least it looked like one. He was garbed in entirely black, not even his face was visible. They could hear the crackle of voices through the monitor. Everyone leaned in trying to pick up a word, but they heard nothing.
A sudden furious pounding on the door snapped them all out of the trance they were in.
"Some one better get that" Yuffie spoke up.
Tifa being removed from the rest of the group moved to get it, but Leon stomped across the room to get it before her. Opening the door he found Donald's nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie piled on top of each others shoulders. But upon him opening the door they lost they're footing and fell on top of each other.
"Boys." he said looking down at them "What seems to be the problem?"
Each of them seemed to be out of breath, and incredibly distraught by something.
"We need your help!" "Help!" "Soldiers!" each of them blurted out.
"Alright, alright, take it easy" Leon raised his hands defensively quieting them down "You three stay here and catch your breath. I'll take care of this". He took a step forward around the three, but stopped once again when someone bumped him from behind. He turned to see WALL-E right behind him. "You stay behind.. you'll only get in the way" he practically scolded.
The robot lowered his head glumly letting out a sound to match his new mood. Leon looked up from his to see the disapproving looks of his fellow committee members. He just could never win today could he?
As he'd find out that trait would continue throughout the day.
He blew a tray strand of hair away from his eyes "Alright" he sighed "You can come" the sudden approval sent WALL-E into a frenzy "-Just" he snapped regaining his attention "stay out of the way if anything happens" he nodded frantically in agreement. Leon looked up at the now approving stares of everyone else.
"This just can't get any worse" he said under his breathe before running off towards the marketplace with WALL-E close behind.
Sprinting around corners and down the streets, he couldn't hear the soud of anything that described to him. No sounds of a struggle, argument or even a whisper.
And while that might sound like a good thing to others, to Leon seemed foreboding. He thought back to the monitor and what he saw? The man in black. Was he why it wasn't working. No, they all can't be related.
Rounding the final corner and running up the hill he found his answer. Not the man in black at all. It wasn't one man at all, rather a group of them. They all seemed regimented in a type of formation with each of them wielding the same type of weapon; some type of gun. They weren't wearing black, but white save who appeared to be the commander who had an orange pad over his right shoulder seeming to signify his rank.
He seemed to be in a conversation with Scrooge McDuck who appeared to be giving him a sales pitch; one that wasn't working. He nervously looked around the much taller soldier and was delighted when he spotted Leon walking towards them.
"Ah! Here ya go! Just like told ye" he said with a thick accent and a wave of his cane. Leon kept walking forward and stopped behind the commander. Slowly and rigidly the commander turned around to face Leon.
He was now face to face with a one just as emotionless as his, but it didn't unnerve him one bit.
"Can I help you?" he asked blandly.
The commander observed him, or at least he thought he did under that helmet before he answered "We in search of something".
Isn't everyone these days.
"Whatever you want that doesn't excuse your conduct here? Your supposed to check in with the committee"
"My orders are my own." he retorted almost instantly as if expecting disapproval and not caring about it.
"Who are you and where are you from? I've never seen you on this world before" Come to think of it, he'd haven't herd of any one like these guys, but then again there were far too many worlds out there to count. Who knows who or what was out there.
"We are in search of.." he seemed to trail off as he lowered his gaze to who was standing side by side with Leon's.
"The droid!" he suddenly exclaimed when he saw WALL-E. That was the first time Leon heard him call that. All eyes flashed down to him as the little robot surprisingly didn't seem to take all the newfound attention well as he took refuge behind Leon's keg. "Take it! Set your weapons to stun" he barked. With that said WALL-E turned tail and fled away as fast as he could.
"Wait!" Leon snapped, but he was already too far gone. The leader aimed his weapon and before he could get a shot out Leon drew his own weapon; his signature Gun blade. Then he slashed it at the commander right as he was about to pull the trigger.
Slashing across the chest he fell like a stone to the ground. Turning back to the Stormtroopers he could see the entire firing squad staring him down and something told him they weren't set to stun anymore. "Oh great" he muttered.
All this trouble for a little droid? What did he have that they wanted?
Before any of them could pull the trigger or he could even dodge something else happened.
Tifa had catapulted herself into the squad and planted a powerful fist into one of they're helmet's. She then grabbed on by the shoulder and with one hand launched him into another three.
"Well c'mon. Are you just gonna sit there or fight?" she asked before kicking her leg back and kicking one of the soldiers out from under him.
She didn't have to tell him twice. He rushed in just as fast as she did, but not as recklessly. He swung the massive gun blade down cutting three soldiers down in a single swing, then shot out a round at two taking aim at him; successful taking them out before they could fire him.
Hearing someone stomp behind him he turned and swung around in full force with his gunblade about to cut down yet another soldier. His momentum stopped when he saw a black glove grab the blade and stop him in his place. He was relived to see it was only Tifa on his receiving end, accidental as it was.
"Easy there" he said calmly "I'm on your team" she said releasing the sword from her grip and he remained silent; not wanting to admit he couldn't move it at all when it was in her hands. Not an easy feat by any regard.
The two looked around the deserted marketplace as the numerous soldiers lay on the ground defeated. Every one else cowered inside they're shops.
"Was that the last of them?" she asked
"I doubt it" he responded.
They're head remained on a swivel "Where'd our little friend go?"
"Who?" he asked cluelessly.
"Wall-E!" she scolded him
"How should I know" he shrugged. Whatever happened here was practically his fault the way Leon saw it. "He ran off at the first sign of trouble". More like rolled.
"What'd they want him for anyway?" she asked him, as if he knew.
"How should I know" he repeated himself before putting his back to her "But I'm gonna find out" he looked at her over his shoulder "Stay here and tell everyone what happened. I'm gonna get to the bottom of this"
"All by yourself?" she asked in a mix of concern and disbelief, neither of which he liked or needed right now.
"Yeah" he nodded.
"No way I'm gonna help!" she proclaimed
"Fine" he begrudgingly agreed "Help by get everyone else. I'm going to find our culprit" Before she could give him a retort he ran off following the direction Wall-E went. Now he knew where he went initially, but had no idea where to go beyond that. Leon had no way to track him or know where he was or how far he went. He was just sort of hoping he would creep out of whatever hiding spot he had and come to him. His roaming became senseless until he got to the edge of the town and that's where everything became clear.
His tracks went all through the town and lead into the distant mountains; where the Stormtroopers tracks came from and where more no doubt waited for them.
