Disclaimer: I will only say it once, other than the original characters mentioned I own none of this.
The Unknown
Year: 2020 one year after the end of world war 3.
The city of New York once a great city was now in shambles. The streets were now empty buildings in ruins. The city that never slept had fallen asleep never to wake again.
In what was once the Empire State Building a young man sat down and kept a shotgun nearby.
Do it, accept the deal it's the only way you will ever survive.
The young man in question woke up. He was dressed in black jacket and black pants and had nothing but a white tee shirt under the jacket, and had most of his face obscured by a hood. He took a quick look around before checking to make sure his gun was loaded. He headed to the back of the room and looked around "Sarah?"
"Here" a little girl of only ten years in a torn dress that was too short for her looked at him with haunted eyes. Her hair was bone white and her skin was so pale it was nearly translucent. Not a rare site these days.
"How are you feeling?"
"Normal."
"Keep the sniper rifle up Sarah, we may need it soon."
"Jack, you won't leave will you?"
Jack knelt down to her "no, we're together to the bitter end, if one of us dies, the other will follow."
"That's what dad said to mom" said Sarah "what happened to them?"
"They allowed us to live" said Jack avoiding the question "that is all that matters."
A loud roar was heard and Jack went near the entrance.
There they were. Their skin was now light grey and decayed, the chests were cut open allowing all to see the organs working with blood continuously seeping out unneeded, their arms mutated with some objects fused with them, they had long lost any body hair and some bones were even sticking out in some places, their razor sharp teeth rumored to be able to cut through steel showed every time they roared or fed on their next meal.
The Mortuus Anima; created by man to destroy mankind.
Five of them roared when they saw Jack and charged at great speeds. Jack fired at hit two in one shot with fatal wounds. "Sarah, hit them!"
Oh they'll overwhelm you at this rate, if you don't take the deal…
Jack ignored the voice in his head and saw one go down from Sarah's efforts. Jack rolled out of the way to avoid a strike that cut right through a street lamp behind him. The other Mortuus Anima revved a chainsaw attached to its arm and swung at Jack who used his shotgun to parry the blow. He noticed the other one charging "Sarah, if you would!"
Sarah shot the charging Mortuus while the one Jack was fighting cut through his shotgun cutting down the barrel significantly. "At least its double barrel" said Jack. He fired when the Mortuus got close enough strike taking the head off.
Jack sighed in relief and went back inside while reloading his gun; he'd done it so many times he didn't even have to think about it anymore.
You survived this time but how long, hmm, how long? How long before you realize only I can help you?
"Sarah, we're safe for now."
You can't ignore me forever.
Sarah got up from her hiding spot "for how long?"
"Long enough I hope" said Jack sitting down next to her "thank the lord that the Mortuus don't have a sense of smell."
"But they can hear" said Sarah. True they had made a bit of noise in their last fight. If their luck so far was any indication then it wouldn't be too long before they had another attack. Jack put his now shortened shotgun down and reached for the crossbow by Sarah's feet.
"Then we'll just have to make sure we don't make more noise then we can sleep."
Sleep forever if this continues.
"Jack" she offered him some beans from a can "take them you need to eat, you haven't eaten in a while."
"I should be fine for another day."
"No Jack" she shoved them to him "you have to eat something, remember what dad said?"
"Alright" Jack took the can and got what was left. It was at least enough to rehydrate him.
More will come soon, you can't win on your own, take it, take the deal it's the only way, you can take what you want, become a new god.
Jack slapped his ear "mosquito" he said.
Sarah wasn't convinced "you won't commit suicide will you?"
"No, never" said Jack with a voice sounding far away. He looked up and saw a lone Mortuus Anima and took aim with the crossbow. "Sarah, stay down" he whispered, he looked through the scope and lined it up, he fired and hit the target in the neck. The Mortuus fell to the ground dead and Jack sighed in relief. "That should buy us some more time, we might have to move."
A roar was heard.
You know you won't survive this time. Oh what to do, what to do? When they catch poor Sarah whatever will they do with her? How much will she scream before her eyes close forever? How much will she curse your weakness?
"Sarah you know what to do" said Jack as he went out with his weapons. This maybe his last stand but he wasn't going down that easily. He grabbed a loaded grenade launcher from the floor that they robbed from an old military base and awaited his enemies. Sure enough there was a mob of them approaching fast. Jack took a deep breath and fired.
Sarah kept watch on Jack through the scope. She fired alongside him although it was hard to see through the smoke.
Jack was firing all the grenades he could and making sure to hit close groups of the Mortuus for maximum damage. He pulled the trigger again but he was out. Jack saw they were almost there and ran back inside the building and pushed a button on a remote making explosions go off starting a fire at the entrance.
The Mortuus Anima charged but abruptly stopped when they realized there was fire in front of them. The one in charge of the pack looked for a way around and roared at Jack. Jack backed away and went to Sarah "Sarah we need to-SARAH!"
There was a dead Mortuus Anima near her but she had a bad wound in her side. "NO, NO!"
"Sorry Jack, I-I wasn't good enough."
"No, no, this…this isn't happening."
This is my final offer; they will kill you both at this rate. You're surrounded, your sister is wounded, this is the only way; you failed your parents you failed your wife. "No" Your children "No" and soon you'll fail her too.
The Mortuus Anima broke into the building and had them surrounded. The head one was in front of Jack and roared.
"I'm sorry Jack" said Sarah as she held him close.
Well what's it gonna be?
"I accept."
The Mortuus Anima stopped moving towards them and backed off quickly. Jack got up and turned to the leader who was backing away and approached him. Jack made a motion with his hand and the shadows shot out of the wall and grabbed the Mortuus. Jack grabbed his shotgun and fired sending a bullet made of pure darkness at the Mortuus Anima completely obliterating it. The other ones were captured and Jack had them taken into the shadows themselves and soon enough body parts shot out of the shadows.
This is the power of the dark travelers. Tell me how do you feel?
"Sarah" her wound had stopped bleeding but she was still bad she wouldn't last long.
You can still save her, but at a cost.
Jack was beyond the point of caring "what do you want?"
You two will be frozen in time to heal. A crystal surrounded them and imprisoned them both. And you will be awoken when someone else finds you; heh, heh.
50,000 years later
Yuna found a strange cave on the island. Soon she would be a fully fledged summoner and most likely never see the island again so she wanted to explore now. She went walking for a while and stumbled upon something so incredible she wondered how it was missed for so long.
A giant crystal was there with two people inside it; a man that was protecting a little girl that was kneeling like she was wounded; Yuna in curiosity touched the crystal. She heard a roar and turned not seeing the man in the crystal open a red slit eye. A huge inhuman beast far scarier than any fiend she'd ever seen approached her.
The crystal began to crack and the beast saw it and quickly ran away. The crystal broke open and the man walked out holding the unconscious girl. He looked surprised to see Yuna but composed himself "when am I?"
"B-Besaid Island.
"Not where when, what year is it?"
Yuna blinked "err…?"
He seemed to get she wasn't helping and went to leave the cave.
"Wait, who are you?" she asked.
"Jack."
Jack took his steps into the sunlight and shielded his eyes. Sarah began to open her eyes and shielded them as well.
"Jack, are we in heaven?"
"No" said Jack "we're in the future, a bright future."
Sarah covered her eyes "bright is the right word."
"Excuse me" they both turned and Jack put Sarah down when that girl appeared again.
"You're the one that found us" Jack concluded "thank you for that, there's no telling how long we've been stuck in that crystal."
"How did you two get stuck in there, did Sin put you in there?" Yuna noticed the two in front of her were dressed strangely, maybe they came from a time before Sin they'd been in the crystal so long, or maybe Sin's toxin affected them?
"Sin?" asked Sarah "did we do something wrong to get put in there?"
"I guess its toxin affected you" said Yuna "anyway sorry for lack of manners, I'm Yuna it's good to meet you both."
"This is Sarah" said Jack "now about this Sin and its toxin what is it?"
Yuna sat them down and explained to both of them. It explained to Jack pretty much how messed up the world was even if the Mortuus Anima had mysteriously disappeared.
So in short there was another crazy religion out there controlling and recruiting people through fear and giving them strange powers. This is why Jack stuck with Christianity, no strange powers given to anyone in modern times.
"So you're a summoner Yuna?" asked Sarah.
"Yes, in four days I'll be a full one."
"So you can follow in your father's footsteps and defeat Sin. Doesn't that mean you'll die at the end and Sin will only come back?" asked Jack.
"Maybe this time it won't" said Yuna but Jack could tell she didn't believe it either "plus if I don't then who can bring the calm? Even if it's only for ten years it gives people time to rebuild a time of piece, a time to rebuild happiness; that is worth anything."
Jack understood where she was coming from, to have even a moment of safety and peace in his old world with Sarah that time really was worth any price. Amazing how it took an army to make him realize how precious family was.
"Still" said Jack "perhaps it's time to take a new approach to killing Sin."
"What do you mean?"
"You've been doing it the same way for years yet Sin always comes back, so you need to try something new."
"But the final Aeon is the only way to defeat Sin" she argued.
"How do you know, it's the only thing that's worked so far but how do you know it's the only way?"
"Even if there did exist a way Sin would probably come back" said Yuna.
"Why's that?" asked Sarah.
"Because Sin is our punishment for our vanity and it will continue punishing us until we've atoned."
Jack thought "we'll be your guardians and help you then" Sarah wanted to speak but she could sense Jack had something planned.
"B-But I'm not even a summoner yet."
"Yet you still have your own guardians, we'll help as well, I assure you we can handle ourselves in a fight and we're going whether you like it or not."
Yuna didn't know how to respond since no-one had ever demanded to be a summoner's guardian before.
"So can you take us to the village?" asked Sarah.
"Oh of course."
"And one last thing" said Jack "you haven't seen any scary looking zombie things with open chests showing all the guts have you?"
"I saw one in the cave, but it ran away when the crystal cracked" said Yuna.
"Just a minute then" Jack went into the cave and came out one minute later looking satisfied "no-one is to go into that cave again" he said in all seriousness and then Yuna took them both to the village.
Jack looked around at how primitive Yuna said everything would be. Only huts and a temple at the end of a small village; Sarah's stomach growled "is there anything to eat?" she asked.
"Yes, please come to my guardian's huts they'll help you."
"Yuna who are they?" asked a strange woman that approached.
"This is Jack and Sarah" said Yuna "this is Lulu; she's one of my guardians."
"Pleasure" said Jack.
"Yuna, why are you showing them around?" asked Lulu ignoring Jack.
"We're her new guardians" said Jack.
"WHAT?"
"Jack, I was going to break that to her gently" said Yuna with a frown.
"I didn't kick her" said Jack.
"Yuna can I speak with you in private, now" Yuna knew from experience that wasn't a request and followed her. "What are you thinking letting two unknowns be your guardians?"
"Well they were affected by Sin's toxin and then said they were now my guardians after I explained everything" said Yuna.
"And you just let them?"
"They can fight" said Yuna "and fiends are afraid of them."
"Really?"
"Yeah on the way here fiends approached and then ran off when they saw Jack."
"And you didn't think that means he might be a dangerous unsent?" asked Lulu.
"I found them in a crystal" Yuna defended weakly.
"Try sending them" said Lulu "then I'll believe you." She shook her head at how naïve Yuna could be. So Yuna went over to them and did the sending dance to try and send them to the far plane and all that got was Sarah clapping for her well rehearsed dance. That proved they weren't unsent but it still got Lulu's suspicions. So Jack as a test was sent to find a dangerous fiend on the island to kill it and bring back a summoner's relic it had stolen as proof.
Jack was barely gone five minutes when he brought the thing back. That got Lulu frightened of him, it would take her, Wakka, and Khimari together to beat that thing yet this Jack did it with ease. She knew then she'd have to keep close watch on him.
Jack on the other hand thought being a guardian was easy all it took was one dark bullet from the shotgun to kill that thing; he expected that test to be harder. So from other guardians of Yuna that didn't trust him or Sarah one bit Jack and Sarah started learning the ropes of being a guardian.
'Absolute devotion to protecting a summoner that you're planning to kill off anyway' thought Jack. How long had Yuna been brainwashed into accepting this system? Jack swore he'd find a way to destroy Sin for good, for getting him and his sister out of that crystal he owed Yuna a lot more than he could pay.
Jack so far had two of his old weapons back, those being a six shot revolver and his double barreled shotgun that was unintentionally modified by a Mortuus Anima. Not ideal but he made the best of it. Sarah got herself some new knives but nothing else.
Oh that Yuna is one sweet dame; you picked a good one to wake you up. Jack didn't dignify that with a response. Oh come on now, I know you think so too. I can sense it underneath that religious brainwashing is one wild crazy chick.
Jack slapped his ear "mosquito" he said to those looking. He had a feeling he'd be using that excuse quite a lot.
"What's a mosquito?" asked Wakka another of Yuna's guardians and one that disapproved of all technology in other words a religious nut in its finest. Khimari was a man lion type thing with a horn that didn't really talk that much obviously not trusting either of them.
"Nasty little blood sucking parasites" said Jack 'Just like Yevon, sucking this place dry of any chance to advance, exploiting the times and conditions for their own gain, and I thought my time's politicians were bad.'
"Sounds like a nasty fiend, ya."
"Aye, but they're really small, you can't always catch them."
"Unless they buzz around in your ear" said Sarah.
Coming up with ideas to destroy Yevon already, what would Yuna think about you trying to destroy her entre religion?
"Do you think there are many more of these moskitos?" asked Yuna.
If the situation weren't so serious Jack would've laughed 'she's s pure, so plain, her father must have known what she would do but hoped anyway, a foolish man, but worthy of respect, I won't let her die for this farce of a religion lord umm…whatever your name is.' "I don't think there's a lot left anymore and plus they seem to like my blood quite a bit."
"I hope so, but make sure to tell us if there's more" said Yuna.
"Will do" said Jack 'it's better than telling her I have a voice inside of my head, but Sarah might figure it out, possibly, that would cause problems.'
Hey I'm not that bad I give you plenty of advice.
'You tried to have me bed my own sister.'
Your wife was dead you wanted sex and she slept with you every night, screw the rules and get a little intimate with your only family is that really so wrong?
'The fact I'm even having this conversation says it is' thought Jack as he followed the group. 'I'm arguing with a voice in my head, mom was right I really have gone crazy.'
Hey what's wrong with being crazy? If being crazy get's that chicky naked and moaning then be crazy, what you feel I feel after all.
Jack slapped his ear again "damn things keep on coming."
You can't ignore me forever, your mother couldn't.
Jack kept silent as he followed the group back to the village with the training exercise over.
"Jack, Jack!"
"Hmm, oh I'm sorry I was lost in thought."
"I was asking if you knew where to sleep tonight."
"We don't know but being your guardians we're bound to find somewhere" said Jack 'she does what she does for all, yet who would have the heart to send her off on a suicide mission? Everyone cheers her onward while her guardians give false smiles, no more.'
"Jack" Sarah hit him "she wants to know if we'll stay with her."
"We'd be happy to" said Jack. "But I have to warn you she's known to make a mess."
"Huh?"
"JACK?"
Oh now you're getting an invite into her home, you do move fast and her parents are dead too, no-one to interrupt the sweet screams of ecstasy.
Jack slapped his ear again. Yuna gave him a worried look "those Moskitos never leave you alone do they?"
"I don't think they ever will" said Jack. "But we all have to live with annoying sounds."
Hey wake up your girlfriend is up and your sister will jump on you if you don't and she's fucking heavy!
Jack slapped his ear and got up before Sarah got to the bed to jump on him. It was a quiet way of waking him up since yelling would attract the Mortuus.
It was now two days before they would all leave the island. Jack had gotten a certain routine already. He knew already that he wasn't trusted that much but Yuna trusted him and that was all that mattered. Yes as long as she vouched for him then he and Sarah were safe in this world; not that they couldn't handle themselves of course, but it never hurt to have political protection.
"Jack you're up early" said Yuna.
"Mosquitoes again, they wouldn't leave me alone this morning, so anyway today you can become a fully fledged summoner, that's big." 'I hope she leaves soon, I hate having to fake smile like this; I feel like Dexter Morgan.'
Talking to yourself is the first sign of insanity you know?
"Yeah, it is, soon I'll be able to leave and defeat Sin."
"For good this time right?" asked Jack.
Yuna looked confused at the prospect "but every ten years Sin comes-"
"No negativity" said Jack "you will defeat Sin for good got it?"
"R-Right, I've got it!"
"I can't hear you say it louder!"
"I-I've Got IT!"
"Scream it to the world!"
"I'VE GOT IT!" Yuna then blushed red when she noticed everyone looking at her. It wasn't very often you saw a summoner screaming in the middle of the street.
"Don't worry about them, remember you can do this, you can fight, and you will defeat Sin" 'over my dead body your killing yourself.'
"Your right I can do it" Yuna got her confidence back despite all the looks "I'll be going then I won't be long!"
Lulu got a look at him "can I help you?" asked Jack.
"I don't know you or where you came from, but I will deal with you if you harm Yuna."
'She's taking this girl to her death and I'm the dangerous one, it's amazing how hypocritical we humans can be.' "Duly noted" said Jack "you should follow her then if she's going in there."
Lulu gave him a glare and followed Yuna into the temple for the trials of a summoner.
"Jack do you think she'll be okay in there?" asked Sarah.
"Lulu and Khimari are with her she'll be fine" said Jack patting Sarah on the head. He would tell Sarah about his plans later since he suspected she already knew; they had spent a whole month together it's impossible not to know someone by then with the kind of adventures they had.
Hmm, that Lulu is a demanding woman; I sure hope she starts making demands of us.
Jack shook the images out of his mind. He didn't need images like that in the morning.
He went over to the beach for once to see what was going in there; he had a feeling something big was going to happen. He soon saw what was happening with Wakka directing his Blitzball team that never won. Of course that was nothing new but then Jack saw it when Sarah pointed it out to him.
Some blonde haired kid around Yuna's age jumped out of the water and shot the Blitzball back to Wakka.
Oh he's good; better keep Yuna close to you.
'Yuna is not my property.'
Yeah you keep telling yourself that.
'Fuck off' Jack observed as Wakka and his team welcomed the new comer. 'He has a huge part to play in all of this I can sense it.'
"Jack, you have that feeling again don't you?" asked Sarah, she'd gotten better at reading her brother's moods lately.
"Yeah, I do."
"Things are going to get messy from now on aren't they?" asked Sarah.
"Soon, it might be like our world, all over again" said Jack. Sarah hugged Jack tightly there was no need for words, she didn't want that either, and the worst part was she didn't even know the whole story. 'How would she feel if she knew the truth about the death of our parents?'
She'd get over it.
Jack noticed Wakka coming over to him, it was very clear the two didn't like each other that much, Wakka didn't like Jack for his use of 'forbidden machina' and Jack didn't like Wakka for being a religious nut so for Wakka to come to him of all people something must be up.
"Hey Jack, can you show this guy the way to town?"
"Certainly" said Jack "where are ya from?" he asked.
"Zanarkand, err no I mean I got too much of Sin's toxin" he used that same excuse.
"Us too" said Sarah "so what's your name?"
"Tidus."
Dear god who calls their kid such a retarded name?
"Good name, I'm Jack this is Sarah" Tidus's stomach growled "you too huh, well follow us."
They led their new friend into town "so what happened to you?" asked Jack.
"I was attacked by Sin earlier while I was with the Al Bhed."
"Then its toxin did or did not affect you" said Jack.
"Huh?"
Oh I sense something different about this boy; he's alive but not alive like a dream.
Jack slapped his ear "mosquito" he said it was becoming automatic now "anyway if you remember anything else make sure to tell us, Sin's toxin can be tricky to deal with."
Sarah showed Tidus around town giving him a basic tour while Jack had a conversation with the voice in his head. 'What do you mean he's like a dream?'
It was a while since Yuna went for her trials and she had yet to come out. Even Jack was beginning to get concerned.
Tidus apparently had a similar idea as he went in first so Jack and Wakka were forced to work together and go after them. At the very least they managed to remain somewhat civil until it came to the topic of just busting through the walls vs. solve the puzzle and keep the sacred temple intact. Of course there was conflict there. Wakka argued it would be immensely disrespectful and make Yuna upset while Jack argued if Yuna was in danger it would be faster and she'd get over it in two days.
When Sarah agreed that Jack shouldn't destroy public property Jack was forced to solve the puzzle along with Tidus when they caught up with him, reminding Jack why he hated puzzles. They all reached an elevator soon that took them down a floor.
"You do know only guardians are supposed to be here, ya."
"Then why are you guys here?"
"We're guardians" answered Jack "the others can handle it but it never hurts to be safe."
"Safe, when Lulu sees us she's gonna rip us in half."
"Actually you spent the most time with him and you claimed responsibility so she'll rip you in half" Jack pointed out. Wakka turned pale as he remembered that.
The elevator arrived at its floor and they saw Khimari guarding the door and Lulu glaring daggers at them.
"What are you three doing here and why did you bring him?"
"Why not?" asked Jack.
"Only guardians are supposed to enter here, anyone else is forbidden."
"He's responsible for him, don't look at me" said Jack.
"That was mean Jack" said Sarah.
"It's called surviving."
The door opened and out stumbled Yuna. "I-I did it, I'm finally a summoner." Khimari supported her to hold her up.
Looks like that the trial was rough, but I know we could be even rougher.
Jack slapped his ear.
A small festival was held in honor of Yuna becoming a real summoner.
'Aye can't wait to kill her off' Jack went over to her. "Yuna, can we talk?"
"Oh Jack, sure sit down."
"Lady Yuna this man uses machina, he is a heathen!"
"He is my guardian ms-"
"A simple misunderstanding Yuna, this mistaken woman was just leaving" the old lady got up and walked off, no-one noticing Jack controlling her through the shadow.
At a boy Jack, no-one interferes with your sex life.
Jack slapped his ear before speaking. "Just making sure Yuna, are you really ready for this?"
"Of course" she said.
"Then worry not, Sarah and I will find another way, you won't die if we can help it."
"Jack, you don't have to" said Yuna. "Being a summoner is in my blood."
"I'm sure it is, but I'm also sure your father, erm what was his name again?"
"Lord Braska."
"Right, Lord Draska."
"Braska" she corrected.
"Fine, I'm sure he didn't die so you could follow him early, I'm not saying you shouldn't go but it's something to think about."
"I have to, if I don't then who else will?"
"Regardless, we're all with you till the end whatever path you decide, just so you know."
"Thank you Jack, is there anything else?"
"Yes actually, that Tidus guy we just picked up, you should consider making him a guardian I sense potential in that one."
"Right and Jack…"
"Yeah?" he asked.
"Please don't fight with Wakka anymore."
Jack bit his tongue knowing Wakka had more influence over Yuna than he did. "I'll do my best" he promised.
"Thank you." Jack walked off knowing that even if he couldn't argue with Wakka anymore that didn't mean he couldn't use other ways to make the guy suffer. Wakka then got in front of everyone and did the funky chicken dance and couldn't stop himself. Seeing that it made Yuna and Sarah happy Jack was all the more happy to oblige.
It was even better for Jack to see Wakka get grilled by Lulu for bringing a non-guardian into the temple and then acting like a fool.
The next day it was the day to set off and Jack's start to begin his plans to destroy Yevon's hold over Spira; well he would start as soon as he thought of them. All the guardians gathered near the temple and waited for Yuna to emerge. She soon emerged with a big suitcase.
"Yuna, we're not going on a vacation" said Lulu.
"Their gifts for the temples we'll visit."
"Yuna we can't go lugging that around the whole time" Lulu pointed out.
"I guess your right" she said in resignation abandoning the suitcase and joining the group. Jack sent all items in the suitcase to the shadows so he could access them at any time. That would be useful.
The group travelled down the path leading out of the village when Wakka gave Tidus a sword that belonged to his late brother to fight with. A few fiends got in the way then but as soon as they saw Jack they ran away.
"Jack the fiend repellant strikes again" said Sarah.
"It only works on lesser fiends the stronger ones will only take it as a challenge" said Jack.
"What exactly do you do to make them so afraid of you?" asked Lulu.
Jack shrugged "beats me, something about me must scare them, anyway it keeps the annoying ones that seem to have endless armies out of our way, so we can move on."
Khimari soon joined them and challenged Tidus to a small battle. Jack watched Tidus fight a decent battle before Khimari retreated.
"What was that about?" asked Tidus.
"That was just Khimari testing your skills" said Jack "he does that to everyone, I think, he doesn't really talk much."
"That's so weird though."
"An opinion you're better off keeping to yourself" said Jack as he continued on with the rest of the group.
"Jack could you step back" said Yuna "you're scaring all the fiends away and Wakka wants me to test out my new Aeon."
"As you wish" Jack stepped back and let the fiend get in Yuna's way. Yuna made her summoning circle and called down Valefor from the sky.
"Whoa" said Tidus and Sarah. Yuna commanded Valefor to attack the fiends and won with almost no effort. "That was cool Yuna" said Sarah.
Yuna looked confused "why was it cold?" Tidus, Jack and Sarah couldn't help it anymore and laughed at the confused Yuna.
"What's so funny?" she asked puffing her cheeks out which made them laugh harder. "Stop laughing" she said stomping her foot.
"Sorry Yuna, we just needed a good laugh" said Jack.
"Yeah, but that was funny."
"What was so funny?"
"It's a Zanarkand joke you wouldn't get it" said Tidus. "They only know it because I taught them."
"Jack…"
"I'm sorry Yuna" he put a comforting hand on her shoulder "we won't do it again, next time we laugh we'll make sure you get the joke." She gave him a light glare as she kept going.
The group travelled down the island port and boarded the boat so they all set sail. with everyone saying goodbye to Yuna for the last time.
"Yuna you're not still mad at me are you?" asked Jack.
"I'm…not used to being laughed at."
"Sorry" said Jack "we won't laugh at you again, you have my word."
"It's not the laughter Jack, I want my trip to be full of laughter" she's already acting like she's going to the electric chair. "I just couldn't understand why you were all laughing at me; it made me think I did something wrong."
"Okay then to set your fears at ease I'll explain the joke to you" Jack spent a while having to educate Yuna on a few slang terms first and why they caught on before really getting to why her unintentional joke was so funny.
"So you were really complimenting me?"
"Yes, and when you thought we were saying it was cold instead we just couldn't help but laugh at your confusion of terms."
"Huh, I guess that is pretty funny thinking about it now."
"No, you pouting at the end was funnier."
"I didn't pout."
"Yes you did like this" he did a mock imitation of Yuna's pouting. "Come on you know that's funny."
"No its not-"
"Come on Yuna you know you want to" he did it again and saw Yuna's defenses weakening against all that funny until she broke out in a grin and began to snigger. "See, I knew you couldn't resist for long."
"That wasn't fair" said Yuna through her sniggering.
"Then just for that you can ask me for any one favor you want, except letting you kill yourself willingly" he finished before she could say it.
"I'll keep that in mind then."
Okay lovey dovey times over, stick the dick to the chick will ya?"
Jack slapped his ear "damn things never leave alone."
"Hey Jack" said Yuna "there is something I've been wondering about."
"Go ahead."
"Why is it weaker fiends are frightened of you yet moskitos which are really small, go up to you all the time?"
'Shit, I didn't count on her thinking about that!' "Sorry, what was that Sarah" he shouted over to Sarah who looked at him strangely "sorry my sister needs me perhaps another time."
"Jack!"
Jack got away from that scenario and had a feeling he wouldn't be able to get away with that excuse as much as he used to. Calling Sarah like that only worked a limited number of times. He noticed that Lulu had overheard and seen Yuna catch him in his little lie and knew he had to be more careful and more tolerant of the voice from now on.
Come on now, you can't make up one decent lie?
'She caught me off guard with that question.'
Then make one up.
'No it will only look suspicious.'
Do it or else.
'Or else what, you already torment my thoughts.'
Super freak, super freak, she's super freaky Jack got a load of images in his mind. It's getting hot in here, so hot, so take off all your clothes! Even more images of Yuna entered Jack's mind. 'That's enough!' Not until you make up a good story and until you do here's more music: let's have some fun this beat is sick I wanna take a ride on ya disco-
'Alright damn it I'll think of something!' He went back to Yuna while she was talking to Tidus about Zanarkand and how it was real. "Oh sorry am I interrupting?" asked Jack.
"Oh not at all" said Tidus.
"She's still mad at me isn't she?"
"Yep" said Tidus as he left Jack to his fate.
"Sorry about going off earlier it turns out she didn't need me after all" said Jack.
"Right" said Yuna not looking convinced at all "so again why do Moskitos come near you when weaker fiends run away?"
"Okay you caught me I lied" said Jack, he quickly continued and made up his story on the spot "the truth is their really after Sarah I just force them to come to me instead so they don't attack her; I can't protect her from things that small, fiends are afraid of me not her after all. She doesn't know about this by the way so can you not mention to her?"
"Of course, I understand, she's lucky to have a brother like you."
"I'd like to think so."
Simple, believable and you covered the weakness that could expose you, good work Jack. Now if we can get Yuna to shake that ass.
Jack slapped his ear "the things I go through for that girl."
The ship started to violently rock. Jack grabbed hold of Yuna and the boat to prevent them from going overboard. A massive fin came out of the water and sent a wave onto the boat.
"Sin" yelled one of the crew.
"Man that's big" Jack muttered. The crew manned the harpoon guns. "Stop that you idiots, that thing will pull us down if you hit it!"
"Sin is heading for Kilika, we can't let it get there, lady summoner, please forgive us." Yuna nodded and a harpoon was fired into the fin.
"Just great" said Jack. The boat was pulled along and the fin shot out a group of sin spawn onto the boat in front of them.
Wakka, Lulu and Tidus got in front to challenge them. "Jack, get Yuna to safety" said Lulu.
"Will do" said Jack, he picked up and Yuna and flung her over his shoulder before she could protest and ran off with her to the other side of the ship.
"Jack put me down, I have to go and help!"
"Sorry Yuna, orders are orders" he dropped her into his shadow. He could explain it later and she'd forgive him, she wasn't a girl that could stay angry forever. More sin spawn landed in front of him. "Landing in the shadows; big mistake." Jack raised the shadow and impaled the sin spawn from all directions.
Sin's fin began to move to the right side of the boat. Jack went up to the top floor and got out his shotgun and fired at the fin. The shot at least made a dent in Sin's armor but all it did was piss it off. More sin spawn were shot off the fin and they landed behind Jack.
"Tidus get up here and keep these things off me" yelled Jack as he charged up for another shot. Tidus ran up and beat back the sin spawn. Jack charged up another shot and fired doing more damage to the fin. "Don't kill them all or it will only send more try to keep one of them alive if you can" Jack instructed. Jack charged both barrels with shadow energy. The fin moved to the left side of the boat.
"Yeah, that's easier said than done" yelled Tidus. He blocked an enemy fiend.
"I'm not exactly having fun either" the charge was complete. "Alright take this" the shot was fired from both barrels and impacted the fin with a dark explosion. Sin gave off an ear splitting scream.
"Did we beat it?" asked Tidus.
"No, we just pissed it off," Jack got out his pistol and fired at the harpoon gun before the fin submerged and took them all under. Sin's main body came up and raised its tail; everyone could only watch as it came crashing down into the sea making a huge wave go over the boat. "Oh-"
"Shit" Tidus finished as the wave came down on them. The sails were ruined and some parts of the ship were taken off but the ship was mostly kept intact.
Jack pulled Yuna out of his shadow "Ahhh, what did you do, it was all dark."
"I did what I'm supposed to do, I kept you safe." Everyone got together. "Is everyone here?"
"Wasn't Tidus with you?" asked Wakka. Everyone noticed the cheery blonde's absence and Wakka jumped overboard to look.
"Crud this is a mess," Jack called out "all crew and Besaid Aurochs to the front of the ship!" No-one came "I said" he got some shadow power in his throat "ALL CREW AND BESAID AUROCHS TO THE FRONT OF THE SHIP! MOVE IT YOU WORTHLESS BUMS!" They all assembled quickly and Jack had his revolver out. "Alright men due the captain and first mate being down I will be taking control of this ship, first things first we need to run damage control."
"Hey why should we listen to you, you're not a sailor and you use machina!"
"Yeah" the crew agreed.
Jack fired a dark shot into the air and shocked the crowd into silence "I'm sorry sailor did you wish to say something?" All the crew shook their heads. "Good, now as I was saying first we need to run damage control, and look for any other survivors that might be nearby. Aurochs you take care of finding survivors overboard, you three will be team A and you will tend to any wounded on board, you five will be Team B, you'll run the damage control on the ship and see what repairs are needed. Strip parts away from the boat that we don't need to repair the vital systems if you have to" he turned to the group who was stunned at Jack's change and the way he just took command during a crisis "Yuna."
Yuna jumped "yes sir?" she found herself saying.
"You go with team A, you know cure magic so you'll be able to help them move a lot faster."
"R-right" said Yuna. "Well what are you waiting for an invitation move it!" yelled Jack.
With the so called Captain Jack as they called him taking command of the ship a few survivors were found and treated, and the sails were cut off the ship after they were deemed beyond repair and unnecessary weight. A few planks off the ship were stripped off to help repair the Chocobo powered engine and Yuna had to heal the Chocobos themselves to get the ship going again but despite the situation they managed to make it to their destination but found it had already been visited by Sin.
Everyone departed from the boat and people gathered around Yuna as if she was the only hope they had and the sad part was that was probably true.
"Lady Yuna thank goodness you're here" said one woman.
"We feared our loved ones would become fiends!"
"Is there no-one else to perform the sending?" asked Yuna. They shook their heads sadly. "Then I shall do it before going to the temple." She walked off with the rest of the group leaving Tidus, Jack and Sarah to follow.
"Jack do you know what a sending is, are we going somewhere?" asked Tidus.
"As far as I know, it's some kind of dance designed to get spirits to the far plane so they can avoid becoming fiends."
"They become fiends?"
"If they stay in this world too long I guess they do, fiends have to come from somewhere."
"Quiet, Yuna's starting" said Sarah. They all watched Yuna and Jack had to blink a few times to make sure Yuna was actually walking on water. At first it was simply going around in circles and swinging her staff around but then the spirits became visible and rising into the air, and the water Yuna was standing on rose up like a fountain lifting her up as well. Yet Yuna still kept dancing and bringing the spirits rest. There was something beautiful yet frightening about it, how many more times was this going to happen, how much longer was Yuna going to have to keep dancing? These questions persisted in Jack's head without answers.
They headed to the forest while some members of the Blitzball team stayed behind in order to help rebuild. One thing going for Yevon, it did help people come together. It gave people hope regardless of how false it was; meaning Jack would have to keep his plans to himself until the time was right, he knew better than anyone how hard people fought for even a glimmer of hope.
What really surprising was that Wakka was still preparing to play Blitzball at Luca with his team; thankfully Tidus asked the question for him and it was all to stop people thinking about Sin for a while, with Sin going around terrorizing everyone, they all needed a break to get away from that; Jack developed a slight respect for Wakka after that but wasn't above causing him trouble.
"So the temple is up ahead" said Tidus.
"Don't know, I've never been here before" said Jack.
"Me neither" said Sarah who had taken to riding on her brother's back.
"We have to pass through this part of the woods first, ya" said Wakka "then we climb the steps and then we'll be at the temple."
"And the forest is teaming with fiends no doubt" said Jack.
"Of course Jack, there's no fun without enemies" said Sarah.
"What is this, a video game?" asked Jack.
While Yuna would've normally stopped and asked what a video game was she instead went to Tidus and asked "excuse me, would you consider becoming a guardian?"
"Huh?" asked Tidus asking the exact same question going through everyone else's mind.
"Yuna, the guys good at fighting but he's an amateur at fighting fiends, ya" said Wakka.
"But" Jack gave Yuna all kinds of 'no' signs "Jack recommended him." Jack groaned at having all attention focused on him. "Oh, I wasn't supposed to tell them that was I?"
"No, you weren't." Get on your knees girl, and we'll gladly forgive you. Jack slapped his ear. "Since bigmouth over there has told you all I'll just say I sense potential in that one and he deserves a chance that's all let's be on our way." A few fiends got out of Jack's way except for a few which Jack directed towards Tidus so he could show his skills.
They stopped as they saw a large sleeping fiend in the middle of the road.
"That's lord Ochu of the forest" said a crusader. "He's a strong one; discretion is the better part of valor."
"Well we can't fight that, ya" said Wakka.
"One of us can" said Lulu; it was time to see this Jack in action again there was a lot more than what he showed. "Well what are you waiting for Jack, go get him."
"And risk destroying the trees causing a domino effect we'd be in the middle of? No, Sarah you know what to do" she jumped off his shoulder and stepped onto Jack's outstretched hands before he thrust her up; she grabbed onto a branch and pulled herself up.
"You threw a little girl into the trees?"
"My sister is not just any little girl" said Jack.
"Then why do you carry her around so much, ya?" asked Wakka.
"Sarah do you see the weak point on the beast?" asked Jack ignoring the question.
"Just a minute" she called out. She got up and ran across the branch and leaped to the next tree with a branch hanging directly above the beast's head. She hung upside down from the branch and had a look at the beast from above "found it" she launched from the branch and drove one of her knives right into the monster's main weak spot waking it up and crippling it. Sarah dashed away from the monster and got back on her brother's back.
"Wow" said Tidus basically summing up everyone's thoughts.
"Anyone is welcome to put it out of its misery" said Jack. Khimari wordlessly did the deed. "To answer your question it's a sign of trust, not even the bravest man would allow a sadist little girl with blades and that kind of skill to get this close to his neck. It's also Sarah's way of determining if I'm an imposter or not."
"I'm not a sadist Jack. I'm a sadomasochist" said Sarah.
"Sorry Sarah."
The entire group continued onwards trying to ignore the questionable sanity of two of its members. Yuna was probably the only one that saw the sense in what Jack was doing with Sarah but only because he had more influence on her now.
They all made it to the steps of the temple, and Wakka decided to stop and give some kind of history lesson. "These stone steps have a history ya know?"
"Do they?" asked Jack deciding to be respectful, he wanted more influence over Yuna by the time his plan started.
"Yep, Lord Ohalland trained here at its peak."
"Who was he?" Jack whispered to Yuna.
"My father's predecessor" she whispered back.
"Ah."
A couple of Aurochs that had followed laughed in a strange way.
"Oh you want a race" said Tidus figuring it out correctly. "Alright then" the three of them joined by Wakka lined up.
"Yuna if you would" asked Wakka.
"Okay" Yuna got close to them "ready, get set" she ran up the stair without them.
"Hey no fair!" they chased after her. Even Sarah got off Jack's back and went after them.
Oh, she does have a playful side to her after all, if only we could develop that in a new direction.
Jack was so caught up in the fact he found proof that underneath all that religious conditioning and brainwashing there was a real girl in there that was desperate to get out that he didn't even bother slapping his ear. Yuna showed all the signs of a person accepting their fate of dying, how she wanted as many happy memories as possible before it happened.
'I will find a way to save you Yuna; I will find a new way to defeat Sin, I promise.'
Lulu gave a light chuckle "kids…"
Jack was broken out of his thoughts by that "you're not going soft are you?"
"Don't be ridiculous" said Lulu going back to her old tone "even I can have a laugh every now and then, do you find it disturbing?"
"No, I think you should do it more often, it's nice, and it would creep Wakka out."
"Keep me out of your battles with Wakka" she said "and don't bother looking innocent, I know you have something to do with all those unexplainable acts he's been doing."
"Innocent till proven guilty." Two members of the Aurochs team ran back down the stairs in a panic.
"Quickly there's a big fiend up there!"
Jack, Lulu and Khimari ran up the stairs. A huge fiend hiding in a shell was in front of them. Jack turned seeing a two tentacles come up from the ground behind them. "That shell is too hard, my sword can't cut it" yelled Tidus.
"Go for the tentacles that should force it out" said Jack. "Yuna when that thing emerges I need you to summon. We might need it."
"Right" said Yuna keeping close to him.
"Lulu; cast fire on the tentacles."
"Fine."
"Khimari, work with me to pierce through that shell in case the tentacles idea doesn't work!" Khimari simply nodded in understanding.
"Hey what about me?" yelled Wakka.
"You protect civilians!" Jack jumped out of the way of the tentacles. He fired on the shell and found his revolver shots penetrated it. That was good he wasn't ready to show some real shadow power just yet. Khimari's spear had a similar ability when he attacked it.
Tidus and Lulu combined their attacks onto one tentacle and the thing quickly fell, then they moved on. Tidus used Cheer on Lulu to increase her magic and Lulu cast an empower fire on the next tentacle causing it great damage.
Khimari and Jack continued their joint effort in cracking the shell of their enemy. Jack fired multiple times and Khimari batted away a tentacle that would've hit Jack and Jack returned the favor by shooting one down that attacked Khimari from behind.
Tidus and Lulu took down the last tentacle and the shell opened revealing a butt ugly plant monster.
"Yuna, that's your cue!"
Yuna nodded and began the summoning. Valefor swooped down in front of Yuna and beat back the tentacles. "Cast fire now" ordered Yuna. Valefor blasted the ugly plant with strong fire magic and the plant responded by attacking with poison tentacles. Valefor flew out of the way "again, cast fire!"
The plant monster was hit again and was now near defeat. Tidus ran forward and struck it down. Yuna dismissed Valefor and rejoined with everyone else.
"Man being a guardian is tiring" said Tidus.
"It gets easier" said Jack. "Keeping Yuna out of trouble is the difficult part."
"Hey." Everyone gave a small laugh at that, everyone swore they even saw Khimari give a small grin. "I don't get in trouble that much" Yuna defended.
"Aye, once Yuna gets out of denial we can get to the temple" said Jack.
Yuna refused to respond knowing it would only give Jack more ammo and went on ahead. The group followed laughing to themselves and soon enough Yuna found herself joining in.
As they climbed they got a lot closer to the temple.
"So…uh they got fiends in Zanarkand too?" asked Wakka.
"Just a few" said Tidus "it's a big deal when one shows up though. Hey, since when have you believed me about Zanarkand anyway?"
"I've been thinking" said Wakka "Maybe the people that Sin gets to don't die. Maybe Sin carries them through time, like a thousand years through time. And then one day, maybe they just pop back see?"
Lulu stopped "amazing, simply amazing. You make up one theory after another refusing to face the simple truth. Sin didn't take Chappu anywhere. Sin crushed him and left him on the Djose shore! Your brother won't just pop back. Oh, and one more thing. No matter how much you want it no-one can take Chappu's place. Just like no-one can replace sir Jecht. And there's no replacement for Lord Braska, either. It's pointless to think about it, and sad."
"Who knows" said Jack "after all how much do we really know about Sin? Who's to say to an extent Wakka is right or wrong? For all we know Tidus might be from the past or he might be crazy either way he's here now, that's all we need to know." He passed by Lulu.
"Your actually defending Wakka?" asked Lulu looking at Jack as if he just beamed down from his space ship.
"You loved him didn't you?" asked Jack.
"What?"
"Chappu, that's why you're being so harsh about him being dead, but in reality you don't want to accept it either."
Lulu stepped back at the harsh truth hitting her and got angry, just when everyone was frightened there would be a huge battle between their two strongest combatants Jack grabbed her by the throat and made her look him in the eyes. Lulu felt fear as she looked into the eyes, those haunting eyes, it was feeling just like she did that day, there was no hope left. Then the feeling went away and Jack continued up the steps.
'That man, Jack, who is he? There's something there, something dark and inhuman.'
Oh, that was pretty cold Jack, throwing the truth in her face like that and then terrifying her with your stare anyone might think you got a little angry back there. Why, you're not still sore about that woman's death are you?
'Her name was Tomoe.'
Oh, you are still sore about it, not that I can blame you she was a screamer.
Jack slapped his ear and twisted it to keep his anger down.
The group arrived at the temple. "Strange place" said Tidus.
"Yeah" said Jack.
Lulu took Yuna aside "I'm telling you Yuna, Jack is dangerous, whoever you think he is he's deceiving you. I looked right into his eyes that time and I felt despair and sorrow just like that day, there's something dark and inhuman about him."
"Khimari's not human" Yuna weakly pointed out.
"Just look into his eyes and you'll find out" said Lulu. She pushed Yuna towards Jack.
"Can I help you?"
"Erm…Jack can I see your eyes?" asked Yuna.
"My eyes; Okay" Jack looked Yuna in the eyes but she didn't sense anything bad there. She sensed confusion and comfort from them but no evil. In fact instead of the anger she was sure she felt earlier she was sure she felt a bit of happiness now. "Is there something wrong with my eyes?" asked Jack.
"No, there fine" said Yuna "just making sure."
"Lulu put you up to that didn't she?"
"What did you do to her?"
"Just letting her know others suffer worse than her, nothing more Yuna, I won't do such things again."
"Please don't, I don't want any of you fighting."
"I shall go apologize then." Jack headed over to Lulu who subtly got ready for battle in case Jack decided to just get rid of her before she could expose him. "I apologize for what I did earlier, regardless of my reason using that ability on a team member is inexcusable."
"That ability?"
"It brings feelings of despair and hopelessness to the surface" said Jack "useful for demoralizing an army, but never something to be used on comrade. It will never be used against you or others again, you have my word."
"I'm still keeping an eye on you" said Lulu "Yuna might not be able to see the darkness inside you, but I can see it very clearly."
"I'll keep that in mind" said Jack.
Philistine, she calls that darkness, we should strip that bitch and show her the real power and pleasures of darkness.
Jack didn't dignify that with a response, and joined the rest of the group. Yuna gave him a light smile seeing the conflict had been resolved.
They approached the temple entrance and saw three guys walk out and come towards them holding an air of arrogance.
"You here to pray for victory too?" asked Wakka.
Us? Pray?" asked the leader. He folded his arms letting out so much arrogance that Jack wanted to puke "Who needs to pray? The Luca goers always win!"
"Oh yeah then why are you here?" asked Wakka.
"We've been praying for some competition this year. So, what's your goal this time? You gonna, do you best again? Heh, it's too bad your best isn't enough! Why even bother showing up?"
Jack stepped forward and grabbed that leader by the shoulder and knocked him out. "Get him out of here" the team members of the team carried their boss away to get away from scary Jack. "He was annoying the hell out of me."
"See you in the finals" Wakka yelled to the retreating members.
"Can you teach me how to do that?" asked Tidus.
"After the temple" said Jack.
"That was a good thing you did Jack" said Yuna.
"I thought you were going to blow his head off" said Sarah.
"I considered it" said Jack "but then I would have to clean up the mess and blood stains really badly."
No-one could tell whether or not he was serious, it was really hard to tell with Jack since he talked about death like it was the weather.
They made it inside the temple and Wakka went straight to the statue of a summoner.
"Lord Ohalland guide our feet" he prayed.
Everyone else simply sat there and watched while Jack turned to Yuna "Yuna isn't there a gift you wanted to give to this temple?"
"Yes, but I had to leave those things behind, remember?"
"No, you still have that gift."
"You saw her leave the suitcase behind, how can she still have it?" asked Lulu.
"Why don't you check your pocket Yuna?"
Yuna checked anyway and stopped as she felt something, she pulled it out and found that very gift. "Huh, but how-Jack what did you do?" asked Yuna.
"Me, what makes you think I did anything?"
"Jack" said Yuna with a little of a warning tone in her voice.
"The same way I kept you safe during the boat attack" said Jack "now come on you have a gift to deliver."
Yuna decided to put her questions on hold and gave her gift to the temple.
"A summoner, are you?" asked a strange lady who came out of the main temple area.
Yuna approached the two with Khimari keeping closer "My name is Yuna; I'm from the isle of Besaid."
"Dona" the woman replied. "So, your high summoner Braska's daughter, that's quite the name to live up to. My, my, my…all these people are your guardians, and one uses forbidden machina, quite a rabble."
"To have so many guardians is an honor" Yuna defended "I trust them all including Jack" she put her hand on his shoulder "it gives me many good things to think about during my travels and comfort knowing I will be kept safe, but of course I would never think of questioning your ways either" she said in a tone that said back off "so I ask you lady Dona, please leave us in peace."
Jack controlled Dona and her guardian through their shadows and had them leave.
"That's the way to tell em Yuna" said Sarah.
Yuna just looked at Jack and kept smiling "why are you smiling so much?" asked Jack, that smile kept saying something to him: it said I know something you don't.
"Secret" she said before leaving.
Oh she's got you hooked now, if she keeps this up you'll be eating out of her hand not the other way around.
'It's official I'm a bad influence on Yuna' thought Jack.
You let her fight her own battle there, she's getting a lot more confidant now, I'd say that's a good influence, now all you have to do is make her more confidant and she might choose you for a slave, the mistress would have the proper uses for us of course.
Jack slapped his ear; that was not the image of Yuna he wanted in his head no matter how appealing it was. "Jack, we need to go" said Sarah.
"Oh right of course" he followed the group.
They stopped at an elevator like platform "the Fayth is below here" said Wakka. "Then of course; there's the trials."
"Strength everyone" said Yuna.
Everyone got on the platform but Sarah and Jack. Khimari pushed Tidus off. "Hey what gives?"
"You're not a guardian yet" said Lulu.
"Sarah, Jack why aren't you coming on?" asked Yuna.
"Not enough room on the elevator, and I hate puzzles" said Jack.
"Jack as guardians, it's kind of mandatory for you to go with your summoner" said Wakka.
"Not enough room on the elevator" Jack replied.
"Carry Sarah on your back then, you won't take up as much space" said Yuna.
"I'm up for it" Sarah hopped onto her brother's back before he could object.
"See, Sarah understands" said Yuna.
Jack groaned at being outnumbered and got on the elevator.
"Don't be so down Jack, remember this isn't about us" said Sarah.
"Aye, right, keep watch and kill anyone else that approaches."
"WHAT!"
"Jack, this is a scared temple of Yevon you can't have people killed" said Yuna "or injured" she added when Jack opened his mouth, Jack opened his mouth again "or incapacitated."
"Man rules, rules and more rules, alright Tidus while you're up here say your acting on Yuna's behalf and keep people out, bluff if you have to, got it?"
"Err…yeah got it."
"We'll be back soon" said Yuna.
"Tomorrow if Jack's made to solve the puzzle" said Sarah. Jack tugged her hair hard.
"Yuna, Jack's being mean."
"Jack-"
"Sorry Sarah."
The platform went down. Jack was fortunately left out of solving the puzzle since he couldn't figure it out for the life of him.
"Should've finished high school" said Sarah.
"You should've actually gone to high school" replied Jack. Sarah stuck her tongue out at him. They finally made it through to the room of prayer and Yuna went in alone as custom dictated. It was something Jack was getting sick of.
Then Tidus came in and Wakka and Lulu ganged up on him asking what the hell he was thinking and that Yuna could get excommunicated meaning she would lose all right to be a summoner. Truly Jack couldn't be happier if that actually happened but he knew at this stage in his plans Yuna would be devastated if that happened. Before he was able to do anything Yuna came out of the room looking ragged.
"Yuna, are you alright?" asked Jack.
"I'm fine Jack" she responded "I have the new Aeon, we can leave now."
"Great news" 'no more damn puzzles.'
"There's more puzzles" Wakka pointed out sensing where Jack's thoughts were going "and they get harder from now on" he added wanting to see his enemy suffer. Yuna couldn't help but laugh at Jack's expression.
Jack took out his revolver causing all laughter to cease he pointed it towards his face 'tempting but just not worth it.' He put it back in its holster causing everyone to sigh in relief.
Jack kept at the back of the group as he left the temple. He kept having flashbacks from his childhood, back when he still had his mother who was a puzzle fanatic and kept trying to push it onto him.
"Jack" Yuna's voice broke him out of his thoughts. "Is something wrong, your falling behind?"
"My apologies" said Jack as he walked on not answering the question. He hadn't thought about his family in a while. Yuna recognized the look in Jack's eyes and instantly grew worried.
"Do you want to talk about it, its unhealthy to let it build up" Yuna pointed out.
"What idiot told you that?" asked Jack.
"You did" said Yuna.
"Oh that's right I did" said Jack. "I was thinking about my past, how my mother, she always loved puzzles, I didn't share that love but she kept trying to push it on to me all the damn time, I hated it, but no matter what I did she would slip a puzzle in front of me somehow. Sarah was the only one that found it amusing."
"So going into those trials reminds you of your mother?" it was more statement than question.
"Yeah there's that, though mainly I just don't like puzzles."
Yuna laughed at Jack's grumpiness. "She must be an interesting person."
"She was, but she's dead now" said Jack.
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"I'm over it" said Jack "people die every day yet the world still spins, life goes on, mourning is fine, but you can't do it forever, you just have to figure out how to live without people when they go."
The look on Jack's face reminded Yuna of some veteran crusaders she saw that survived a lot of battles with Sin. Was Jack some kind of retired crusader, or maybe one that lost his memory due to Sin and got sealed in crystal? No, that couldn't be right, Jack used machina without reservation, and he was too young to be a veteran (well that's what she thought judging by his appearance), so he couldn't be a crusader and he looked nothing like an Al Bhed.
So what was he, what was Sarah for that matter, who were they, and why were they sealed up in that crystal and why were they the only ones that knew what moskitos were?
Just when Yuna had one question about Jack and Sarah answered so many more arose to take their place.