A/N: It's been awhile since i looked at my Star Ocean fics. And i started playing the fourth game not too long ago. It is a great game, and i was thinking back to Star Ocean 3.... ah.... such times were so nice. Well, anyway, as some of you wanted, i've written up my third installment of my To What End series. Personally, i'm not too happy with this.... This version is already a revised copy, but i still think it lacks something.... how about a good story plot? Yeah, i think i've been missing that from most of my stories....
So welcome! To my last installment of To What End, What Dreams are Made of. Remember, don't enjoy my story? Turn off your computer, and turn away. No need to shout at me at what you don't like, or what i should be doing. This is my fic, so i do what i want. If you don't have anything constructive to say, shut it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Star Ocean.... and now that i think of it, maybe i don't want to. I would most likely screw it up.
Star Ocean 3
To What End3:
What dreams are made of
The Sword and Shield
He wondered about many things. Things that ranged from the fates of star systems, to the tiniest detail. His mind was constantly crowded with thoughts. Unwanted, and maybe unnecessary thoughts. Yet he never really showed others just how clouded his mind was. After all, he had an image to uphold, and he was damn good at making sure he held it. But maybe some knew. Some knew that despite his carefree, easy-going, and rather impulsive nature, he is one who thought about a lot. Okay, so most of his thought process isn't exactly where he needs them to be. But at least he has thought over things. Mulled over, was the more proper term. Though it would seem hardly the case to anyone right now, he was thinking about his situation.
Situations like these usually never call for much thought, at least in his mind. These were the sort of times when his blood would boil over, adrenaline saturating within his veins, and he would go all explosive. Yet why was he thinking? Maybe it was something that he hadn't done in a long while, and so his mind decided to wake up from its slumber and take over. Dust blew past the rubble he was leaning against, while another hole just appeared slightly the left of his right shoulder. He stared at the hole. The burn was identical to ones from a Melisious grade disintegrating beam rifle. So they decided to bring out some big guns. He could hear his own heartbeat beat within his own ears. How odd, that he never actually took time to think about these small things in times like these.
Somehow, in dangerous and life-threatening situations like this, it would seem that thinking about small things seem to bring about a new perspective on them when compared to observing the same object in times of calm and peace. A sudden tug of his coat made his head jerk to the left, just as another hole opened up on the wall right where his head was. Maybe now wasn't exactly the best time for thinking. He turned and looked at the one who pulled his arm. A young man, probably about his age. Dressed in the deep blue colour of the military. The ES military. His right eye had a formation of circular symbols rotating in it. The power of sight, Clairvoyance. It was a minor power, compared to some others, but it was so intricate and complex, that only a few could use it.
It was actually a product from the Leingod industries, and maybe he had a hand in its testing. But he isn't as good at using that power as this young man. This man is barely hitting twenty, and he has seen more action on the field than most thirty year old soldiers. The ES military, one of the strictest, and most powerful military presence in the Eternal Sphere. Soldiers were drafted no matter what race, species, gender, or age. A large number of these soldiers were no older than he was when he took command. Thinking back, he knew it wasn't really a choice when he was signed up. It was like he was born to wear this uniform. His eye wandered to the rest of the group who stayed behind the rubble. They wore special assault uniforms, unlike him, and the young man who jerked his head out of the way.
The others wore thin, but extremely tough and durable Herrangas assault armour, dressed in the black assault attire, and had the helmets with a single eye screen projected from the helmet to display information. The men cowered as an explosion blasted just a few centimetres from their hiding place. He looked at the near-by pillar as it shook and rattled. This building isn't safe anymore, and they all knew it. He looked to the young man, who seemed to be shouting something, but he couldn't hear the words. Maybe he should try to focus. Or maybe the last blast made him deaf. Who knows? But soon, he could start to hear again. Slowly, but surely. He was starting to make out the words from this man.
"Si-.... Sir-..... Sir!.... Sir! Are you-.... Are you al.... Are you alright, sir?"
"... Yeah... i'm fine."
He managed to reply. His head was feeling slightly lighter than usual, and he was feeling slightly elated. But about what?
"Thank goodness.... when you were hit with that poison, i thought we lost you."
Poison? Was this what it was? Poison? Funny, it never really felt like poison. It felt like a stimulant drug. Not that he did any on purpose. His mother had made sure that he never went 'astray' with her Spartan like child-raising methods. But back to the poison. So he was hit with poison. Yes, he remembered that. He saw an enemy trying to flank them, and he managed to take out that enemy, but in return, he was hit with a poison dart. It was strange how primitive weapons can cause the worst harm. Yet what was the enemy thinking? Using poison? Or was it-
"... Wraif... are you alright?"
He asked slightly out loud. He waited, and waited. So this was what the poison was about.
"Sir... looks like your symbol is locked."
"Yes.. apparently so..."
The man turned over, nodding to one of the armed soldiers. That man, in turn, crouched low, and ran over to his side, carrying a pack of medicine.
"Give me the Salaris."
The soldier passed the man a single syringe. The man tested the syringe, and carefully injected its contents into his vein. Following right after, the man applied another set of symbols. He felt his thoughts coming back to him. He was finally feeling the weight of reality, and the situation.
"... Wraif."
'At your call.'
A voice rang out within his head.
"You had some trouble, huh."
He smirked. Now he was feeling slightly edgy.
'That was really some tiresome poison. Who knew these Fausions had the technology to make symbology sealing poison?'
"Hmph, well, now that you're free, what do you say we... shake them up a bit?"
'With pleasure.'
"Lorden. Head to the extraction point by route G. Make sure nothing happens to the objective."
"Sir?"
The young man looked slightly surprised, but then he seemed to have understood.
"Yes sir."
Lorden looked over to the rest of the team, and nodded, leading the team away. The objective was a large box containing a secret technology produced by the Fausions. Obviously none of the Fausions wanted it to get into the hands of the ES military, as the two were at odds with each other. Well, the ES does have a lot of enemies, even though it is suppose to represent the entire Eternal Sphere. Dissenters, and people who were not happy with the way the ES government ran things were very common. Of course, there were the ever famous '4-D haters'. Those who believe that the beings of the Eternal Sphere were supreme beings and have the right to command all. No matter what time, what age, what era, there were always people like these. And that was where he came in. He clenched his fist tightly, focusing his energy as symbols started to appear around him. He would be breaking a few rules, but then again, who cared about those rules anyway?
"I stand above all, i stand before thee. My pain is my sword, my suffering is my strength. For all that i am, i am the blade that delivers hatred. Sending my anguish to cut through my foe-"
The energy burst sent a ripple, bending his surroundings. Swords of all types appeared around him, simply floating there.
"I am my own... Retribution!"
'We who answer the call of blood shall pledge ourselves to thee.'
Wraif, his symbol answered within his head.
"Ultio 3, 5 and 8."
Three swords in sheaths appeared on him. One by his left hip, one long one strapped on his back, and one short blade on his right arm. He stood up, and walked out of his cover. The enemy were numerous, but he didn't care.
'45-60-70'
Wraif told him almost immediately, and he drew the sword by his hip, throwing it to his right, where it flew straight, and pierced the enemy who tried to snipe him from another building.
'30-50-40'
He threw the short blade on his arm in the direction, while the sword he sent flying before re-materialised in its sheath. He continued to walk forward, throwing his swords in the direction which Wraif told him.
'In-coming enemy fire.'
"Let's dance."
The enemy managed to group up together, and starting shooting a storm of bullets and laser fire at him. The swords that dangled in mid-air around him flew about, deflecting each shot that tried to hit him. He released another burst of energy, and more swords appeared, but these were sent shooting off towards where the enemy were. These swords were different from those in sheaths, as these impaled enemies, and shattered, never to return. They were also used to collide with large enemy fire, like a cannon beam, or a rocket, instantly taking the hit instead of himself. Within fifteen minutes, all was silent. But he knew that there were still enemies about. He tapped his ear piece.
"Lorden. Where are you guys?"
'"We're on the drop ship, coming to your location now."'
"No... Turn around and head back to the 'Vertigo'."
'"Sir?"'
"Do not come into the hot zone with our objective. Once on the Vertigo, activate a teleporter, and home in on my position. I'll try to get to an area where they haven't jammed yet."
'"... Yes sir. Lorden, out."'
He heaved a sigh. His mission was complete. But now he had to figure out a way to get off this rock. Destroying the entire Fausion city could be useful, but that would only cause a headache, not to mention a great deal of paperwork and explaining to a lot of people. And personally? He didn't like paper, nor explaining.
"... Wraif, can you get a good idea on where we can teleport?"
'I'm not your sniffing dog. Hang on..... on this coordinates.'
His ear piece's computer activated, projecting an image before his eye and showed him a map. A single red dot was marked on the map. It wasn't too far from his position, but he was sure that there would be many ambushes waiting for him. How troublesome. Just as he was about to complain to no one in particular, his screen activated once more, though the audio feed came in before the video.
'"YOU IDIOT!!!"'
The sheer volume nearly sent him flying off his feet. The screen appeared, and a very angry bluenette was literally boring bullet holes into him with her dagger stares. She was pissed, and he was sure that even that line would be an understatement.
"You don't have to shout.... i'm not deaf."
'"You might as well be. Can't you listen to instructions? You were meant to go in SILENTLY. I knew i should have disobeyed the admiral's orders and go down with you."'
"But you didn't. You're always too obedient, and too calculating. Sooner or later, one of those traits will land you in trouble."
'"Your irrational, impulsive, and explosive nature have gotten you into more trouble than any fleet of the ES can bring.... Stay put, i'm heading down to your position."'
To his position? Normally that would be impossible, but knowing her, and knowing what her usual plan was, he couldn't say he was going to be too happy about her idea.
"You plan to orbital drop from the Vertigo to my position?! You could get yourself killed!"
'"Now whose fault is that? And i'm already entering the atmosphere."'
He looked up, and sure enough, a single flaming object was hurdling towards him. He did not like this one bit. He summoned his defensive swords, and they managed to cover him just as something crashed into the building he was in with maximum velocity. The 'something', in question, created a large crater before him, and when the smoke cleared, a single large ball of blue energy was seen in the hole. The ball slowly melted away, revealing a young woman with blue hair and emerald eyes. She looked very much like her mother, and she took much of her character from her mother as well, though she tended to be more level-headed than her mother when facing irritating things, events, or people.
She dusted her dark blue coat that was identical to his, though the rest of her uniform was the female version. A black blouse, matching mini-skirt, and knee-high boots. She dusted her deep blue beret, and checked her black biker type of gloves. She held the rank of Captain, as did he, but somehow her word held more weight than his, mainly because he was the more reckless of the two.
"... You know, you shouldn't orbital drop without proper equipment. Your symbol isn't going to withstand so many orbital drops."
He sighed, extending a hand to her, which she took. With one pull, he dragged her out of the crater. She stood at his height, and that meant that he was short for a guy, and she was tall for a girl. But they were actually of average height. Not too tall, not too short.
"I know my symbol best.... and you used Wraif beyond the restricted limits again, didn't you?"
".... I don't know what you're talking about."
"You may not, but the admiral had seen your little... 'dance'. And i don't think she's too pleased."
"Geh.... The admiral.... As long as she doesn't tell her mother, or ours, i think i'm safe."
"And you actually think that there are things that can escape the eyes of our mother?"
Now that he thought about it.... no. Nothing can escape his mother's eye. She was like an eagle that can catch its prey no matter what. Okay, skip eagle. She's a monster.
"So... why did you come all the way down here?"
"Knowing you, you would most likely destroy everything along your way, and not concentrate on defence. That's why i'm here. To cover you till we reach the extraction point."
".... I don't really need a cover."
She raised an eyebrow, and then eyed a wound that was on his arm. That was from a single stray shot that managed to get past his sword wall. She knew where it was, because they were connected. And sometimes that irritated him to know that he could not keep secrets from her.
"Are you doubting my defensive capabilities?"
She asked. He looked at her for the moment, before smiling.
"Yours? Never. If you got my back, i don't need to do anything. After all, you are the symbol of absolute defence, Seira."
"And you are the absolute attack... which is why you need to think before each attack, Sora."
A/N: Unlike my previous stories.... i haven't written a whole lot for this story before posting. So people, you may need to be patient. One more thing..... this last installment may be the shortest. Unless i can stretch it far, i don't think i can reach 50 chapters with this.