Valesti

Author's Note: Enjoy the story and R&R.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to or of Star Ocean: Till the End of Time.

Summary:

Following Luther's defeat, Sphere is attacked and its personnel locked down. Blair struggles to uphold order and contact Fayt, as the highest levels of the corporation are commandeered by two beings claiming to be gods.

…

Chapter 1: Sphere

The endless hallways stretching throughout the Sphere Corporation were becoming more than an annoyance to the warrior. Despite the recent death of the owner, Luther, the building was still crawling with security drones and assault programs. They ambushed her at every turn, brandishing swords and clubs, or pointing gatling turrets and rocket launchers at her. They did not last long though. She passed easily, barely lifting a finger, leaving the scent of smoking metal and charred flesh in her wake. Occasionally a human employee would confront her, demanding answers and alerting more security-bots. At spear-point, most halted in their defiance. She ordered them into their labs, gently prodding at their necks. They were fortunate that they were not being disposed of like the machines.

She punched-in a control panel operating the locks of the second floor. Its internal power source flashed five times before the light finally dimmed. The warrior had a feeling that it would be some time before she saw the workers again. Aligning her magical spear with the path behind her, she proceeded forward towards the illuminated elevator.

Stopping to throw her hair back, a smile formed on her lips. "Two down, two-hundred-nine floors to go."

…

The main lab was filled with the sounds of worried chatter. Several of Sphere's top programmers had gathered at the centre of the room, discussing methods of escape. Only an hour ago had they been imprisoned within their own workplace.

One female programmer in particular was especially busy. She was repetitively tapping keys and bringing up view screens, examining the situation at hand. Given the circumstances, she was certain that information of the death of the owner must have been leaked out to the public.

Sphere was without a main heading force, and its second-in-command managers, Belzeber and Berial had also perished during the "cleanup" of the Eternal Sphere. Now was the perfect time for aspiring terrorists to attack. Before the owner's demise, the corporation was known greatly for its security. To prevent attacks like the one now plaguing the company, guests were monitored and transported directly into the building. Each visitor was accompanied by at least four armed guards and in some cases by the head of security, Azazer. Of course, he was dead as well. It seemed as if all the men around her were dropping like flies.

Due to her affiliation with Sphere, and her relations with Luther, she knew the personnel well. At a time, she had enjoyed the presence of her brother and his two right-hand lackeys. However, the past joys were stripped of her the day Luther announced the cleansing of the viruses in the Eternal Sphere project. Her brother seemed to have lost the ability to reason. No matter how much she tried to persuade him that the beings held existence equal to their own, nothing worked. He had merely laughed and continued sending countless Executioner programs to complete the task of erasure. Belzeber and Berial ignored her pleas, and she was not about to speak with Azazer. He was the worst of all; acting suave and intelligent, while behind his glasses was a man of cowardice.

It was only natural for her to feel trapped, and that was what made her pursue Fayt and his group. The nineteen-year-old earthling had proved necessary in the survival of the other universe.

Running two fingers across the computer interface, the woman attempted to contact the other workers in the upper levels of the building. Unfortunately, no one replied and all that came through was static. It was aggravating. Firstly, taking on Luther's responsibilities, and secondly, having to deal with a major crisis.

The researcher closest to her noticed a hint of irritation in her voice as she cursed under breath. "Calm down Blair." He reassuringly patted her shoulder.

The platinum-haired woman rubbed her forehead in frustration, still tapping at the keypad with her other hand. She had a dire urge to talk back at her colleague, but she was far too preoccupied. How was it that the intruder had managed to get past security so easily…or was there more than one intruder?

"There's nothing we can do but wait. The fate of the company does not rest in your hands. You do not have to prove yourself of the Lansfeld name."

She frowned at that, but said nothing. She put a hand to her chin, her sight fleeting from the console. Obviously, she was in deep thought. After several seconds, the frown disappeared from her face. She chuckled sarcastically. "The fate of the company…not in my hands? Could someone do better?"

…

The throne room shone in the seven colours of the rainbow, highlighted mainly by its glimmering crystal pillars and satin banners that hung from the walls. The red carpet that ran across the centre of the floor to the seat of the Holy Mother became wrinkled as a pair of snakeskin boots fell upon it. The Queen of Aquaria stared straight ahead from her place on the golden throne, as if unfazed by the man's entrance. Her crimson eyes beamed at him with authority. Standing next to her, with a posture that would make a nobleman jealous, was Magistrate Lasselle.

Lasselle spoke up, coughing to assure that the man was paying attention. "Thank you for coming on such short notice, Mackwell. We are aware of your time-consuming duties."

He was already on one knee, bowing. "My only wish is to serve Aquaria and Her Majesty."

"That is-" The queen interrupted the magistrate's reply.

"Mackwell, you have done well for our Sacred Kingdom of Aquaria. I offer my finest blessings."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"The war with Airyglyph, however, has left the foundations of our society in ruin. Although no one speaks out, many of our people now feel that I am unfit to rule."

"No, Your Majesty. That is not true!" Mackwell stood up, his voice full of rage.

She silenced him with a wave of her hand. "The people have the right to believe of such. In the time of need, I sought the aid of the engineers from Greeton and their partners. I entrusted them with the Sacred Orb, which is now enshrined once more in Kaddan. Without this personal sacrifice, all would have been lost."

Mackwell nodded in understanding, pity for his queen welling up in the recesses of his mind. "What do you ask of me?"

"In two days, an alchemist from the Mountains of Barr will be arriving. I wish for you to conduct runological tests with her to determine a solution to the latest domestic violence. The castle guard is unable to hold back the crowds forever."

"I will make preparations for her arrival!" He bowed again, this time with a fist to the polished floor.

"Good." The queen nodded towards Lasselle.

"Her Majesty has spoken. You are dismissed."

Mackwell exited the throne room through the large sapphire-encrusted doors. Rarely had the queen requested audience with him. As he ascended the staircase to the second floor of the castle, the young alchemist pondered Her Majesty's reasons for doing so, besides accommodation for the other female inventor who would be arriving. Ever since the incidents involving the being known as The Creator, Aquaria and its neighbouring countries had been in domestic chaos. Though Lady Nel had reported the demise of The Creator, the citizens were still not at rest. Ties with Airyglyph had strengthened, as both it and Aquaria's regions required each other's support. Ties with Greeton did not run as smoothly. Aquaria was fortunate that the continent's leading authority, the Lord of Arzem was stricken with an illness and unable to go about affairs.

"The queen's concern most likely stems from the collapse of relations between our Sacred Kingdom and Greeton." Mackwell opened the door to his study.

Stepping into the large room, the alchemist felt at home. From birth, the castle's library had served to educate and prepare him for life's lessons. He had grown up with a vast variety of topics, but none was more interesting than runology. On the night of his seventh birthday, Mackwell made the decision to enter runological and alchemy studies upon reaching secondary education. The green velvet carpet below his feet and the shelves of books served as reminders of his allegiance to the Church of Apris and the Holy Mother.

As he observed the kingdom's collection of tomes, Mackwell's gaze shifted to an unoccupied table behind him that was normally used as a studying area by his apprentice, Mishell. The boy was only twelve-years-old and had already published many powerful pieces of literature. Witness to Mishell's upbringing, the alchemist was certain that he would grow into a renowned and distinguished writer. His assumption proved correct as years passed.

Taking notice of his amazing skills, the queen had ordered Mackwell to guide the child protégé. Mishell did extremely well, exceeding the man's expectations, with the exception of one habitual detail. Throughout the course of the boy's apprenticeship, he was constantly tardy, which caused Mackwell a great deal of concern. The man soon discovered the reason for this. Apparently, the young female in-training runologists of Aquios had developed affinity towards Mishell.

"What do you want? Write a book?" he would always say, impressing the ladies.

His superior would spend most of his days seeking him out and dragging him back to the castle to be lectured about punctuality.

Mackwell sighed, dreading the child's vanity. He was overwhelmed by the prospect of playing cat-and-mouse once again. Chances of finding the boy were slim, so he digressed from the matter.

"Looks like I'm doing all the work…again." The alchemist thought as he pulled a file from the shelf.

…

The room was filled with an awkward, but not unexpected silence. A dozen faces examined those of the two standing before them. The sounds of their feet shuffling on the floor reverberated off the metallic walls, producing an echo similar to that of a beeping communicator.

For weeks, the Pangalactic Federation had tried to keep citizens of planets under their partner governments calm. The events pertaining to The Creator had completely devastated countless worlds. Earth, the home planet of the two guests, had been destroyed. Yet they did not weep. They just awaited response from the baffled ambassadors and officials.

"So, we're here. What do you want from us?" the female demanded. Her voice was quick and direct.

"I think I speak for all of us when I congratulate you on your success. The rest of the universe is spared from annihilation." The oldest of the officials stood, and his intent was clear.

"However…given the nature of our past," he paused, "Negotiations…"

The woman interrupted, counteracting the statement before he could complete it. "I know that the Federation and Quark have their differences, and these have never been settled. I am also aware that the organization is not ready to trust us fully…but Quark is disbanded. The Creator, Luther, is dead. With all due respect, I think you owe us a great deal of gratitude. Without us, the Federation and everything anyone ever knew would have disappeared! None of us would be here today!"

The young man standing next to her stayed quiet. He was familiar with her cynical views towards the Federation. After all, his father had experimented on her as a child without her consent.

"We understand, but it is in our best interests to ensure security first."

"The commodore?" Another brought up the question.

"Killed by the Executioners, along with the crew of the Aquaelie," The other one finally spoke, "He helped us."

Some of the Federation members nodded. The oldest one did not seem interested in the details, and paced the room, thinking. "I am sorry, but the illegal activities that Quark has committed cannot be excused. Furthermore, Professor Leingod's research on symbology was not authorized under Pangalactic law. His test subjects must be arrested to protect the Federation."

The previously locked doors of the room opened, a group of guards emerging from each entrance. They took aim with their weapons, and the helmets they wore feigned their somewhat sympathetic faces.

"Come along quietly. We do not wish to use force."

The woman choked back a low laugh, which surprised her friend. She drew her own weapon from her belt, firing a single plasma blast forward. The energy bullet flew past the official's ear, nearly hitting him. There was a ringing noise as the wave dispersed and vanished into the metal wall. The old man was stunned.

"Don't move!" It was not a command. It was a threat. "I've had to endure much because of you scumbags, and I won't hesitate to kill any one of you!" She fingered the trigger.

A hand descended over her gun. "Don't do it Maria. It's not worth it."

The former commander of Quark looked into her friend's eyes. "Fayt." She returned her weapon to its holster.

"All right, listen up," The teenager turned around, "The Federation is now nothing more than a disorganized group of people. There are more important matters to attend to. Use your resources to help the survivors of The Creator's attacks. It's much more productive than trying to arrest us."

They did not wait for a reply. The guards blocking the doorways moved aside and allowed the two guests to leave.

"He's right. Why aren't we directing our efforts towards rescue operations and damage reports?" a young ambassador inquired.

"Because we are the Federation!" the old one bellowed, slamming a fist onto the conference table.

"It's time for a change!"

"Yes, all in favour of establishing a new government?"

Everyone agreed, except the main official.

"You are outvoted sir. The notion is passed."

He grumbled. "Meddling teenagers."

…

In the Federation transporter room, Maria and Fayt prepared for their departure. A researcher was typing commands on a computer.

"Fayt." Maria tapped his shoulder.

The swordsman met her gaze, slightly intimidated by her authority. It was something about her that he never got over.

"What is it?"

She answered solemnly. "Thank you for earlier. I lost control."

"No problem," He noticed her saddened features, "It's not your fault. Neither of us wanted to become experiments…and it was my dad who…"

"Don't," she insisted, "It's not worth talking about. Let's just get back to the Diplo. We need to start looking for a new planet. We have nowhere to go to from here. We have no Earth to return to."

Fayt agreed, and for the first time since his father's death at the hands of Biwig of the Vendeeni, he shed tears. It was nothing compared to the emotional torment suffered previously. It still filled him with a sense of grief though. He was paying his respects to those unfortunate enough to be in the Executioners' path, and those who had sacrificed themselves to bring down Luther. He cried for the Aquaelie and her crew, as well as for the people of Earth and other worlds that were erased.

Maria held the boy so that her head rested on his chest. She could hear his heart beating. The rate was somewhat irregular. "Hey, cheer up."

"Ms. Traydor, the uplink is ready," the researcher informed.

"Thank you." She flashed her friend a smile before stepping up onto the raised platform and into one of multiple circular disks. Fayt joined her atop the transporter.

"Commencing transport sequence." A humming noise radiated from the machine. It grew louder, drowning out all sounds but its own.

The researcher waved to them as they disappeared in a flash of blue light. "Safe journey!"

…

"Welcome back captain."

Maria strode into the bridge of the Diplo, intergalactic flagship of Quark. Behind her, Fayt followed. The feeling of cold steel shot up through his spine as he adjusted to the inorganic surroundings. There was little difference between the technologies of Quark and the Federation. The latter's devices were universal.

Fayt recalled, in the Federation conference room, that violets and roses had been planted to serve as decoration. He missed the natural side of life. Recently, the image of lush grass and blooming flowers had drifted from his mind. Maria's duties kept her from sprucing up the ship. On many occasions, he had tried to speak to her about the matter, but she was always too busy. Now did not seem like a good time to make requests either.

"Marietta, set a course for the nearest inhabitable planet. Maximum warp." She took a seat.

"Roger captain." The chestnut-haired girl was calculating coordinates at the helm.

Fayt admired Marietta. She was a trooper. When faced with the most difficult of situations, she always derived a near-perfect solution.

It was a known fact that she had a crush on Lieber, a fellow crewmate. Unfortunately, he did not take notice of her efforts. Unrequited love was one thing, but another participant changed the whole game. Just as it was no secret that Marietta had feelings towards Lieber, it was also no secret that he was infatuated with Maria. The other crewmembers often joked about the "Diplo love triangle." Eventually, Marietta came to accept the fact that there was no place in his heart for her. She remained steady and strong. Fayt was amazed by her emotional control.

"Maybe someday she'll find someone else."

"Captain we have detected a planet several days from our current location."

"All right, let's get going."

Moments later, the ship shook sporadically and its engines hummed to life. The hull lit with aquamarine fire, and the Diplo entered warp space.

"I'll be in my quarters. Inform me if anything comes up."

"Hey, Maria." Fayt intercepted her as she turned to leave.

"No time to chitchat." She walked past him and down the dark corridor.

"Guess petunias would be asking too much." He rubbed the back of his head, laughing.